Contacts:

Matt Dempsey Matt_Dempsey@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-9797

Katie Brown Katie_Brown@epw.senate.gov (202) 224-2160     

Inhofe Blasts Obama Pick for Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers

Yet Another Administration Pick that Puts Radical Eco Agenda Ahead of Economic Growth

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today blasted President Obama's announcement of his choice of Alan Krueger as chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers. Krueger served as chief economist at the Treasury Department during the first two years of the administration.

"The choice of Alan Krueger is yet another example of the Obama administration's war on affordable energy, on American jobs and on our economy," Senator Inhofe said. "During his time at the Department of Treasury under President Obama, Mr. Krueger made clear his opposition to the development of traditional domestic energy. He even went so far as to say, ‘The administration believes that it is no longer sufficient to address our nation's energy needs by finding more fossil fuels...' He further stated, ‘The administration's goal is to have resources invested in ways which yield the highest social return.' Yet as the Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports, America has the largest recoverable reserves of oil, gas and coal in the world. The Obama administration's failure to appreciate this fact is one of the many reasons why they are failing to make progress on creating jobs and improving our economy.  

"The nominations of John Bryson to head Commerce, Rebecca Wodder at Interior and now Alan Krueger should make it crystal clear that President Obama continues to favor a radical environmental agenda ahead of turning around our economy and putting Americans back to work."

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