“How can Democrats bash oil and on the other hand want (oil) money to support the schools and all the other things they want for the state?” Rehberg said last week. “Why continually bash the golden egg that has somewhat kept Montana in the black?
“Of course I’m going to be supportive of oil, and gas, and coal.”
That’s how Congressman Denny Rehberg (R-MT) reacted to criticism from Sen. Jon Tester’s (D-MT) campaign. This, as Tester voted to hike taxes on oil and gas companies, while the Republican-led US House instead pushed for expanded domestic drilling.
Meanwhile, a new ad campaign is about to launch in Montana and several other states- as the Dems target Rehberg and the GOP targets Tester.
Politico’s “Morning Energy” report has this:
Neither party has the 60 supporters needed to move their measures, but both are launching full-out ad campaigns hoping to make the votes painful for rival Senators sitting in unsafe seats.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee kicks off a campaign today calling on Republicans to end their “love affair with big oil,” while the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been sending out ads since last week claiming swing state Democrats want to hit consumers with new “energy taxes.”
Mike Dennison profiled the latest messaging from the Rehberg-Tester 2012 race for US Senate:
“If Obama is re-elected as president, my being in the Senate is a check and balance,” Rehberg said. “You’ve already got (Democratic Sen.) Max Baucus. Do we need two senators voting the same way with this president, or do you need a balance?
Now, back to our initial discussion on energy issues. John Adams with The Great Falls Tribune asked this question: Why are MT’s gas prices relatively lower than the national average (19 cents less per gallon)?
John Felmy, chief economist for the American Petroleum Institute, said there are several factors behind Montana’s relatively low gas prices.
First of all, only one Montana county is required to use reformulated gasoline.
“Out there, you only have conventional fuel,” Felmy said. “Conventional fuels are selling for about 18 cents per gallon less than reformulated fuels.”
Felmy said the second major factor leading to relatively low gasoline prices in Big Sky Country is the fact that Montana has four refineries in the state, meaning it has ready supplies of fuel.
Of course, as the Montana Petroleum Association’s Dave Galt added- summer driving demand can change all that here in Montana.
But Tester isn’t running away from his support of Obama programs such as federal health care reform and the 2009 stimulus bill, which he said helped save the country from plunging into a deeper recession or depression.