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Cross-posted from Heritage Action for America

Last night, 92 Senators voted to proceed to S.2204, a bill to eliminate unnecessary tax subsidies and promote renewable energy and energy conservation.  The bill, introduced by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), is not an effort to lower gas prices, as President Obama’s deputy assistant for energy and climate change acknowledged, but rather one of “fairness” and part of a broader anti-oil agenda.

Tomorrow, Senator Menendez will hold a Twitter Town Hall to answer questions “about energy independence, efficiency & renewable, alternatives.”  Heritage Action is committed to untangling the spin.  Help us tweet some facts at #AskMenendez, so we can set the record straight.

Facts to Untangle the Spin:

1. Even though gas is at $3.90 per gallon, just 21 cents below the all-time record high, Senator Menendez said, “Nobody has made the claim that this bill is about reducing gas prices.” Tweet it to #AskMenendez

2. Per Heritage, the subsidy for wind is 1,000-times larger than the subsidy for oil.  If oil received a comparable subsidy, it would be $50 for every barrel of oil produced. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

3. Oil and natural gas companies are already taxed a higher rate than other domestic manufacturers.  They can only take a deduction at 6% while other manufacturers receive a 9% deduction. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

4. America has enough oil to supply our needs for 200 years, but the federal government only leases 3% of federal lands for oil and natural gas production.  Per acre, private land produced 3 times as much oil as federal lands. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

5. As America subsidizes renewables and shutters coal plants, USA Today reports that electricity prices have increased $300 per household over the last 4 years. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

Five Bonus Quick Facts:

1. America is the world’s largest producer of natural gas. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

2. America is the world’s second largest producer of coal. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

3. America is the world’s third largest producer of oil. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

4. Despite decades of solar subsidies, it is still 3 to 5 times as expensive as natural gas. Tweet it to #AskMenendez

5. Germany, Spain and Denmark are all reducing their subsidies for renewables because the subsidies are ineffective and unsustainable. Tweet it to #AskMenendez