NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday December 19, 2007

Shadegg talks one way, votes another

Republican says he wants ethics reform, but votes against it

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) told the Associated Press today that he is upset with corruption in Congress. According to the story, Shadegg said: “Congress refuses to rein in its wasteful spending or curb its corruption.” (link)

“That’s a remarkable stance, since Shadegg voted against ethics reform not once, but twice this session,” said Emily Bittner, spokeswoman for the Arizona Democratic Party. “How much more is he going to talk one way and vote another?”

Shadegg voted against both the Lobbying Transparency Act and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007. (Roll Call Vote 420 and Roll Call Vote 423)

Shadegg’s comment comes on the heels of his vote Tuesday in favor of big oil and against energy independence. Shadegg was one of only 96 Republicans voting against the Energy Independence and Security Act, which reduces dependence on foreign oil and will take the equivalent of 20 million cars off the road by 2020. (Roll Call Vote 1177)

The bill would also repeal about $13 billion in tax breaks for oil companies. The money will be used as incentives to promote cleaner energy. Shadegg has voted in favor of big oil 12 times since June 2006. Shadegg has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in contributions from oil and gas companies, according to the FEC.

“Arizonans are carrying a heavy financial load with record-high energy prices,” Bittner said. “This energy bill was a bipartisan effort to ease the load and end our dependence on foreign oil. But John Shadegg is so out of touch that he seems to care more about his contributors than the people he was elected to represent.”

President Bush signed the energy bill today.