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CNN Live Sunday

Bush Administration Argues in Support of Its Energy Plan

Aired May 20, 2001 - 17:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Talk of high gas prices and the energy crisis fueled some rather heated debate on the Sunday talk shows. As CNN's Patty Davis reports, lawmakers from both sides continue to battle it out over the president's energy plan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Eager to sell President Bush's new energy policy, administration officials came out in full force Sunday, appearing on all five network news programs.

RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As long as we do things or pursue policies that don't increase the supply, then what we'll find on the other end is inadequate supply and spiking prices.

CHRISTIE WHITMAN, EPA ADMINISTRATOR: We have to have more domestic production.

DAVIS: The administration argues its proposal to expand oil, gas and nuclear power production is balanced with its call for billions of dollars in tax credits for renewable energy, an aggressive counter to environmental criticism of the administration's energy plan.

CHENEY: 11 out of the 12 recommendations the Sierra Club made are covered in the Bush set of recommendations. I can only conclude they are not really serious about engaging on the issue, they're much more interested in trying to flog the issue.

DAN BECKER, THE SIERRA CLUB: I don't know what 12 points the vice president is pointing to, but the bulk of his plan helps the polluters. It does not help the American people.

DAVIS: The administration's full-court press comes as it prepares for a major fight over its energy plan in Congress. The White House is trying to defect criticism that its proposals do nothing to help California, blaming the energy crunch on the state's Democratic governor.

CHENEY: They knew over a year ago they had a problem, and Gray Davis refused to address that problem.

DAVIS: But Democrats are going on the offensive with a targeted ad campaign beginning Monday in the Golden State. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "DEMOCRATIC AD")

NARRATOR: President Bush has offered no relief to hard-pressed rate payers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAVIS: Critics also point to the administration's ties to the energy industry. Those ties will be on display this week, at a national Republican Party fund raiser. Some of industry's top lobbyists are sponsoring the event.

(on camera): Meanwhile, consumers want to know when they will get some relief from high prices at the pump, the White House says soon, as it tries to deflect calls in Congress to reduce the federal gas tax.

Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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