Politics

Former Congresswoman Weighs In On Energy Crisis

INGOMAR (KDKA) ― Former Congresswoman Melissa Hart says the man who beat her is all wrong when it comes to America's energy crisis.

Hart is calling for immediate action to allow drilling both off-shore and in Alaska.

Two years ago, Republican Hart lost re-election by 8,800 votes in the race for Congress in the fourth Congressional District north and west of Pittsburgh to Democrat Congressman Jason Altmire.

She's back now, on the key issue of energy. She says it's one reasons voters should return her to Washington.

"While I was a member of Congress, I voted over and over to open up American resources for oil drilling," she said. "It's important for us to be energy independent. We are not. This Congress has gone backwards. Jason Altmire has gone backwards. And in fact Jason Altmire has been on every side of every issue."

Speaking at a gas station in Ingomar, Hart accused Altmire of flip-flopping when it comes to approving more drilling for American oil.

"Jason Altmire's plan isn't an energy strategy. It's an election strategy," she says. "When he didn't think it was an issue he was against it. Now that he's found out, all of a sudden he's listening to his constituency, he's now saying he's for oil drilling but the plan he's supporting includes tons of taxes and that's not what Americans need."

Hart was joined by Republican Congressman Tom Cole from the oil-producing state of Oklahoma.

"Frankly, Congressman Altmire has been part of the problem not part of the solution," said Cole. "As Melissa said, he's repeatedly voted against additional exploration, repeatedly voted against additional production."

Hart favors drilling both offshore and in Anwar, the environmentally protected part of Alaska, and she says constituents in the fourth Congressional District are now just waking up to Altmire.

Altmire says when it comes to trust, that's why we have elections and voters in his district can decide for themselves who they trust more, Hart or him.

Hart says she believes that she lost two years ago by not stressing the differences with Altmire, meaning not attacking him as some said she should.

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