Jerry McNerney's website

McNerney Urges Attorney General Brown to Investigate Potential Gas Price Inaccuracies

As Californians were fueling up their cars and trucks in preparation for travel during the long Independence Day weekend, I sent a letter to California Attorney General Jerry Brown calling for an investigation into potential inaccuracies at gas stations across the Golden State. This letter came after the revelation that a similar investigation conducted by the New Jersey Attorney General found problems and discrepancies at fueling stations in that state.

The report identified stations across New Jersey that charged consumers different prices than those advertised, short-changed consumers by not keeping their gas pumps in proper working order resulting in consumers being charged for a full gallon when often they received less, and failed to provide correct octane ratings.

My concern is that this is not a problem in just one state and that consumers in California may face some of the same inaccuracies and discrepancies at the pump as New Jersyans.

With gas prices here in Northern California some of the most expensive in the nation, consumers should have every confidence that they're paying for what they get at the pump.

I urge Attorney General Brown to immediately begin an investigation of our state's fueling stations to ensure that gas pumps are accurate and dispense the correct volume of gas. As consumers are squeezed by paying record gas prices, Californians at least deserve to get what they pay for at the pump.

UPDATE:

Lisa Vorderbruggen blogs about Jerry's request for a gas price investigation.  Check it out here.

Historic energy bill passed today

On Friday, I reached out to ask you and others like you for help. And hundreds responded. I'd like to personally thank all of you for your help now and for everything you have done over the past months and years.

As we approach the end of the year, and the important fundraising deadline, I turn to you once again. I'll be frank: I need you to give what you can. Donations of $15, $20, $40, or any amount come together and give us the strength and resources necessary to continue our fight for change.

I am back in Washington for the week, working hard for a better national energy policy. I am proud to report that just this afternoon we passed an energy package that includes an increase of vehicle fuel efficiency standards - for the first time in 32 years! The bill also makes other solid investments in our energy independence, including my bill to increase research and development funding for 21st century geothermal energy technology.

While not perfect, and unfortunately without a renewable electricity standard and production tax credits, this bill is an important step, one of many such steps we must take to address climate change and move our country in a new direction. I can't wait to come back after the holidays to continue the fight.

Last year, nearly half of the support that enabled us to run a ground-changing campaign came from donations under $100. Every contribution makes a huge difference. When many voices come together, change happens.

As you prepare to enjoy the holidays with your family and friends, please take a moment to consider my request. There are only a few days before the end of the year to make our goal, to show our opponents that we are on the offense and to show how we continue to lead. Please click here to make a donation of any amount now. 

Again, thank you. I look forward to working with you over the coming year and hope you will be there with me.

Your Friend,

Jerry

P.S. For coverage on this historical bill please click here and here.

 

 

 

20 percent by 2020? McNerney supports new renewable portfolio standard

As Brandon English at the Stakeholder -- the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's blog -- highlights, Jerry McNerney is among the Congressional members receiving praise for their endorsement of new clean energy legislation:

The Union of Concerned Scientists today praised the introduction of a House bill that would gradually require utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, by 2020. The renewable portfolio standard (RPS) bill, introduced by Reps. Tom Udall (D-NM), Todd Platts (R-PA), Mark Udall (D-CO), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chris Shays (R-CT), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, save consumers money and promote economic development in our rural communities, according to a UCS analysis of the bill.

"A renewable portfolio standard should be passed this Congress," said Alan Nogee, UCS Clean Energy Program Director. "The bill gives the American people what they asked for in the election -- a smart, cost-effective strategy to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and get America on a track toward energy independence. And because power plants are a primary source of heat-trapping emissions, this bill can be an important part of solving global warming."

To read more about H.R. 969, including estimates of how this type of legislation might energize America with new jobs, energy bill savings, new revenue streams, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions, check out the Kansas City InfoZine.

Richard Pombo: Big Oil's Best Friend

Richard Pombo is in hot water again, this time over his failure to conduct oversight hearings on corruption in the Interior Department and looking the other way while oil royalties go uncollected.

The beneficiary of Pombo's neglect as Chair of the House Resources Committee? Big Oil, of course.

As the Oakland Tribune reported yesterday:

The New York Times reported Thursday that four government auditors who monitor leases for oil and gas on federal property have sued, claiming the Interior Department quashed their efforts to recover money due the public. This news came atop lawmakers' previous concerns over royalty-free contracts and oil companies' short payments.

Seven House Democrats including Resources Committee member George Miller, D-Martinez, wrote to Pombo, R-Tracy, on Thursday complaining he'd ignored calls for oversight hearings on royalty-free leases.

Pombo wrote back to the seven Democrats on Friday, citing a Feb. 15 New York Times article which noted he'd begun an inquiry into oil companies' royalty-free drilling leases. This inquiry, he wrote, revealed the Clinton administration had signed these contracts back in 1988 and 1989, costing taxpayers up to $13 billion.

The Resources Committee and the House then passed a bill in June to recoup that $13 billion by forcing oil companies either to renegotiate their leases or to face fees equivalent to royalty payments, he noted. The Senate has not yet acted on this legislation.

The Democrats who signed Thursday's letter voted against that bill, Pombo noted. "Pardon me if I am not impressed with your sincerity, as I provided you a solution to this problem, and you voted against it. Sometimes actions speak louder than words."

But Pombo deliberately placed the royalty-recoup provision in a larger oil-drilling bill he knew Democrats would oppose, Miller's chief of staff, Daniel Weiss, said Friday. Had the provision moved alone, Democrats would've passed it in a heartbeat, but Pombo "failed to show the proper kind of leadership by simply moving the royalty provision."

That's not all...

Also, despite long-standing allegations about Interior Department corruption, Pombo has yet to convene an oversight hearing. A House Government Affairs subcommittee held one last week, wherein Interior Department Inspector General Earl Devaney told lawmakers that "short of crime, anything goes" at the department's top levels.

Pombo is "the only chairman I know of who cedes jurisdiction to other committees," Weiss said Friday. "His answer to everything is 'Someone else is holding a hearing' ... so he doesn't have to."

Simply put, it's time to replace Big Oil's best friend with a renewable energy expert committed to honesty, integrity and accountability.