Unions on the inside for Bush's energy policy

Cheney

WASHINGTON -- Organized labor, which has complained of being shut out of the Bush White House, is on the inside when it comes to energy policy.

Unions see the potential for thousands of new jobs in the White House plan to build new power plants and transmission lines.

"I'm for my members, and the AFL-CIO members who are paying too much for gas, for electricity, and the problem is there is a lack of supply," said Douglas McCarron, president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. "That's an American issue, it's not an American labor issue."

But the energy plan that Vice President Dick Cheney hands off to the president this week will offer no immediate relief for high gasoline prices and no immediate answers to two of the politically trickiest issues that Cheney's task force looked at -- nuclear waste and gas mileage standards.

In an interview with The Associated Press three days before the president unveils his national energy strategy, Cheney did signal some distaste for tightening gas mileage requirements, referring to them generally as a "command-and-control approach."

The vice president, whose task force report already has been printed, said Monday that the Transportation Department will be ordered to study so-called corporate average fuel economy -- or CAFE standards -- after the National Academy of Sciences releases its findings on the CAFE standards in July.

The standards have, to the automobile industry's satisfaction, remained unchanged since 1975 despite the proliferation of gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles, vans and pickup trucks.

Acknowledging that such standards "have made a contribution in the past" by promoting fuel-efficient vehicles, Cheney added:

"Whether or not there are changes that are warranted, whether or not CAFE standards or the command-and-control approach is the right way to go in all of that -- we're going to look to the Department of Transportation for some guidance."

The product of three months of Cabinet-level study and dozens of consultations with interest groups, Cheney's energy recommendations will center on increasing the nation's energy supplies though expanded nuclear power, increased domestic oil drilling and more efficient movement of energy, including electricity, natural gas and petroleum.

Bush, armed with polls showing conservation is popular, also will discuss alternative energy sources when he releases the report Thursday during a trip to Minnesota and Iowa.

Cheney won unlikely -- but not unconditional -- support during a private meeting Monday with labor leaders from the Teamsters and big building trade unions who like what Teamsters president James Hoffa called "the amazing hundreds of thousands of jobs" that new drilling and new pipelines could create.

"This is the beginning of finding a solution to many of the problems we're having," Hoffa said. This crisis, with regard to the energy, is taking billions of dollars out of the pockets of working Americans, and we have to find a solution."

Hoffa

One area that Hoffa sees as beneficial for union members is the exploration of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil and natural gas.

The Teamsters see at least 25,000 new jobs associated with exploration of the site, and will try to help the president make the case that it can be explored without hurting the environment.

But Daniel Becker, director of the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy Program, reiterated the group's opposition to the plan. "The centerpiece of the president's plan is to pillage the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for a six-month fix of oil. The Congress has said no because the American people have said no. That's an unacceptable destruction of a very special place." Participants in the meeting said Cheney would not guarantee that any jobs in the proposal would be union jobs or, in response to a question from the Steelworkers union, that new pipelines would be made from U.S. steel rather than cheaper imports.

"We still have to look at the details," Hoffa said.

On Tuesday, Cheney makes the pitch to advocates for solar, wind and other renewable energies.

Cheney bristled at suggestions that the administration should be doing more to bring gasoline prices down. But he did leave open the possibility of Bush backing a reduction of the 18.4 cent-a-gallon federal gasoline tax, which is being proposed by GOP lawmakers fearing their party will be blamed in the 2002 congressional elections if energy prices soar.

"It might help temporarily," Cheney said.

A letter signed by nearly 70 Democratic lawmakers Monday urged Bush to demand relief from the OPEC oil-producing cartel and order a Federal Trade Commission inquiry into potential price gouging.

"Your administration has done little at this late date to address the coming crisis in gasoline prices," the Democrats' letter read.

Democrats and environmentalists have accused Bush and Cheney, both former oilmen, of catering to the energy industry here at home.

Cheney said jawboning OPEC may bring America the "momentary joy" of lower prices but the market would quickly respond with increases. The remarks were in contrast to Bush, who promised during his presidential campaign that if elected he would use his influence to tell OPEC, "Open your spigots!"

On the Democrats' other request, Cheney said, "There's no reason to believe there's price gouging." The only reason to order up an FTC investigation now would be to give the appearance of having a solution, he said.

On nuclear power, Cheney wants to give utilities incentives to build more nuclear plants, which would force the nation to deal with the problem of nuclear waste.

Nevada's Yucca Mountain is the "furthest along and most advanced" high-level nuclear waste repository, Cheney said. But, he added, "even there we're not to the point yet where we can make a final decision."

In the 25-minute interview, Cheney joked about needing to "decompress" after lunch with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich but turned serious to report no chest pains since being hospitalized for a heart procedure in March.

The four-time heart attack victim said "health and age" keep him from coveting his boss' job.

"By the time President Bush finishes his tour I'd be 68 and, given my health history, I think it's unlikely that I would ever be a candidate myself," said Cheney, who is 60.

Cheney also dismissed suggestions that his task force's work is tainted by his private meetings with industry executives who donate to the GOP. He said he has not consulted with any associates from his former employer, the Halliburton oil-services company.

"Just because somebody makes a campaign contribution doesn't mean that they should be denied the opportunity to express their views to government officials," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bush energy plan ignores immediate needs, Democrats say
May 14, 2001
Answers to West Coast energy crisis blowing in the wind
Stakes high for Arctic Wildlife Refuge
Balancing oil and the environment
World's oil supply: How long can we count on it?

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