Mitt Romney had this cringe-worthy moment on CNN yesterday…
Here’s the transcript…
WOLF BLITZER: Can you cite one legislative accomplishment that Senator McCain produced during those 26 years in Washington in order to achieve energy independence?
GOVERNOR ROMNEY: Well, I’m not a historian that goes through all of the pieces of legislation John McCain has worked on.
Yikes. 26 years in Washington and not one single energy acomplishment? How can McCain claim he’s going to sove the problem if he hasn’t done anything in 26 years in office?
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Well, I’m no historian either, but I know how to access http://www.thomas.gov and search on authors of bills. See results below.
Then check out Carly Fiorina, who was asked about this by MSNBC, and said, “We would welcome a comparison of McCain’s legislative record of 26 years with Obama’s record.” She also talked about what we need to do NOW on energy policy.
Good idea.
Here’s what Helenann posted on Daily Kos after researching Obama’s legislative accomplishments in the U.S. Senate:
“Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress. [2005-2008]
Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.
Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.
His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator …
Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:
25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)”
Read more details on Obama’s legislative accomplishments at:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/21/164117/783?new=true
Carly Fiorina invites legislative comparison:
http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/08/mccains_26years.php
So here’s my 5 minute analysis of McCain’s legislative accomplishments:
Of 38 bills authored by McCain in the 110th Congress (2007-8), only one was introduced in 2008 (Yes, only one damn bill sponsored by McCain the whole of 2008), and it deals with energy, proposing a ‘highway fuel tax holiday.’
S.2890 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for a highway fuel tax holiday.
Sponsor: Sen McCain, John [AZ] (introduced 4/17/2008) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 4/17/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Co-sponsors (9): Lieberman plus a handful of Republicans, of which the one running for re-election this are Chambliss, Graham, Sununu Wicker. [per Wikipedia]
Sen Burr, Richard [NC] - 4/17/2008
Sen Chambliss, Saxby [GA] - 4/17/2008
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] - 4/17/2008
Sen Kyl, Jon [AZ] - 4/17/2008
Sen Lieberman, Joseph I. [CT] - 4/17/2008
Sen Martinez, Mel [FL] - 4/17/2008
Sen Sununu, John E. [NH] - 4/17/2008
Sen Warner, John [VA] - 4/17/2008
Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS] - 4/23/2008