Poll: Do You Support the Gang of 10?

16 Sep, 2008 by Katie Favazza

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Stephen Spruiell’s Monday post at The Corner on the Gang of 10 has gotten a lot of attention since it went up. I received it via email from a handful of sources suggesting that it was a must-read.

It starts:

I’m hearing disconcerting rumors that McCain is planning to endorse the so-called Gang of 10 16 20 energy legislation. That would be a huge mistake. In terms of its effect on the conservative base, supporting the Gang of 20’s energy bill would be like McCain pouring a big bucket of cold water on the fire he started with the Palin pick.

He goes on to quote the editors of National Review, who sang little praise for the Gang:

But the benefits of the bill’s meager drilling provisions would be negated (and then some) by $30 billion in tax hikes on U.S. oil companies, placing our own domestic producers at an additional disadvantage compared to their overseas competitors.

And the editors continued, saying:

If you want to know how much of an impact this multi-billion-dollar giveaway for special interests is likely to have on gasoline prices, consider this: Since 2005, Congress has passed two energy bills chock full of subsidies for renewable energy, and gas prices have increased nearly $1.50 per gallon.

Spruiell’s post ultimately calls the plan’s drilling provisions “a sham.”

I started digging a little last night to see what others have written about the plan.

I found this from Investor’s Business Daily, which in no way paints the plan in a positive light. I found that link, actually, right here at Right Wing News.

The Heritage Foundation also summed the plan up like this in a recent blog post: “A change in policy for offshore drilling would certainly be welcomed, but not at the expense of the American taxpayer.”

I’ve yet to find a conservative editorial, column or blog post that supports the plan. Can anyone point me to one?

I’m left to think little good will come from the Gang of 10 plan. I’d be thrilled to be convinced otherwise. If anyone wants to disagree, please post a comment and tell me I’m wrong on this.

What do you think?