Maffei Op Ed

Part of 'thinking big' is working for U.S. energy independence
By Dan Maffei

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I am running for Congress because we need change. It's time for new leadership in Washington so we can finally have a real energy policy that fully addresses the root causes of skyrocketing prices and develops solutions that will give us permanent relief at the pump.

My plan takes the power away from Big Oil by taxing their huge windfall profits and eliminating the unconscionable subsidies they receive. It would reinvest the money into alternative and renewable fuels so we can end our dependence on foreign oil. In the long run, a workable and realistic energy policy is the only thing that will ensure affordable energy prices for our middle class and small businesses.

I have challenged my supporters to think big and that's what we need to do on energy. Let's make it a goal to be free from our dependence on foreign oil by 2020. This isn't a Democratic proposal, and it's not a Republican proposal. It's an idea that will benefit all Americans. Not everything we try will work, but if we don't have the courage at least to try, then nothing will change. It certainly seems as if prices are not coming down any time soon if we continue down this path.

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