CCM Joins Sen. DeMint, Americans for Prosperity to Highlight American Energy Freedom Day

For Immediate Release
August 26, 2008

Contact: Shannon Flaherty
Phone: (202) 423-5373

DENVER, CO - Earlier today CCM Colorado Chairman Bob Beauprez joined U.S. Senator Jim DeMint and Americans for Prosperity's Jim Pfaff to call on liberal leaders to provide real solutions to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

The event, held immediately before House Democrat's held a photo-op unveiling their energy plan, highlighted American Energy Freedom Day which is October 1, 2008. On that day, the current prohibitions on energy leasing on most of the Outer Continental Shelf and on oil shale leasing on federal lands will expire - unless the liberals who control Congress proactively act to extend them.

Both Beauprez and DeMint reacted to Speaker Pelosi's recent comments on "Meet the Press", suggesting that natural gas is not a fossil fuel. "If you listen to what Nancy Pelosi or Mark Udall are saying about energy, they are waffling and they clearly don't understand the issue," DeMint said. "I mean, is she saying that you don't have to drill for natural gas? I guess Nancy Pelosi thinks natural gas is what comes out when she speaks in Congress."

CCM Colorado Chairman Bob Beauprez and AFP's Jim Pfaff highlighted the impact the ban has had on Colorado, and Pelosi's inability to offer real leadership on energy policy.

"Liberals, led by Nancy Pelosi, have no interest in providing solutions to the American people unless those solutions work for their special interest groups - radical environmentalists and unions," Beauprez said. "Their new 'plan', which is clearly a conventional campaign photo op and not a legislative agenda, has more to do with social engineering than bringing down the price at the pump."

Jim Pfaff, AFP CO State Director, said this issue is important to Coloradans as a whole. "Colorado is home to 800 billion barrels of oil locked in oil shale. And we have some of the largest reserves of natural gas. It's time that we secure our energy freedom. If not, we'll look back ten years from now wondering why we didn't see the clear signs and take action."

For more information on CCM and conservative grassroots activities, please visit www.ccmajority.org