04.24.08

Greg Goode Opposes Suspension of Deposits to U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Greg Goode (R-IN), Candidate for Congress
Monday, April 24, 2008
Terre Haute, Indiana
For more information: Contact Dennis Campbell at 812-201-6156

Terre Haute: Eighth District Congressional candidate Greg Goode last night announced his opposition to a proposal co-sponsored by Congressman Brad Ellsworth that would divert oil from entering the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Mr. Ellsworth announced his co-sponsorship of HR 5473 earlier yesterday.

Speaking at a candidates' forum sponsored by the Terre Haute Homebuilders' Association, Goode called for stronger leadership in strengthening the United States' emergency supplies of petroleum.

"Playing politics on issues of national security is wrong and goes against the common sense conservative values of the Indiana Eighth Congressional District," said Goode.

"The United States SPR was developed to ensure that our country's immediate energy needs would not be disrupted during a major national emergency such as a military conflict or natural disaster," said Goode. "It was not meant to be utilized for political stunts that do nothing more than pay lip service to the financial pain Americans are feeling at the gasoline pump."

According to the United States Department of Energy, emergency draw-downs of the SPR occurred during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It serves as a significant deterrent to oil import cutoffs and is a key tool of foreign policy.

Goode's advocacy of domestic drilling for oil and increasing US oil refinery capacity is part of his' Goode Plan for a Better America, which specifically criticizes both parties in Washington for failing to offer bold policies that address the United States' dependency on oil from the Middle East.

"I am surprised that Mr. Ellsworth, who ran on a conservative platform in 2006 would align himself with some of the most liberal members of Congress on this issue," said Goode.

The legislation's author is Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) and includes various co-sponsors including Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), Edward Markey (D-MA), and James McGovern (D-MA). A similar version of the bill has the co-sponsor support of Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Charles Schumer (D-NY).

These East Coast liberals are the same people who are doing everything they can to prevent American oil producers from drilling for American oil on American soil," said Goode. "They are the ones who have been so out of touch with the American people on the energy issue, and now want to play politics with our nation's emergency energy supplies."

Goode declared his candidacy for Congress on August 1, 2007. He is a Republican running unopposed in the Indiana Primary.