"Both Tragedy and Farce"

That's what Republican Sherwood Boehlert of New York called the energy bill passed by the House today. I've commented before about all of the absurd provisions in this bill -- that it's a HUGE (understatement heavy) giveaway to big energy companies, and that it does nothing to conserve energy, reduce demand, or help curb energy prices. It opens up ANWR. It prohibits legal action against the manufactures of MBTE -- AND it gives them a gift of $2 billion in so-called "transition costs" when MBTE is phased out.

I will note one more thing, though: The version passed out of the House today includes $3 billion/year for aid to poor families to pay winter heating bills. The irony, of course, is that as prices skyrocket thanks to terrible energy policy (among other things), those dollars don't go nearly as far as they need to. So, in effect, it's just a handout to the oil companies. Surprise, surprise.

Oh, and one more enlightening moment that shows how our so-called leaders refuse to lead, and prefer to pander in order to get re-elected, despite the terrible long-term consequences for the freaking planet:

Asked about encouraging consumers to drive less to lower the demand, [Rep. Joe] Barton (R-Tx) [chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee] said: "If you want to tell them that, go ahead. I want to be re-elected."

Nice.