Jack Kingston

KINGSTON NAMED ‘FRIEND OF THE AMERICAN MOTORIST’
Earns perfect score on ‘Freedom from Foreign Oil’ scorecard

Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1) today was named a “Friend of the American Motorist” by the grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP).  The designation came after the group of nearly 300,000 citizens released its “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard which ranks U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American supplies and making domestic production less expensive.

“Advancing policies that limit U.S. energy production and supplies puts our national security in jeopardy and costs American families and businesses dearly,” said AFP President Tim Phillips.  “Expanding American oil and natural gas production is essential to alleviating pain at the pump.  Our ‘Freedom from Foreign Oil’ scorecard shows that Congressman Kingston has a solid and consistent track record as a leader who supports legislation that will decrease our costly and dangerous dependence on foreign oil.”

The “Freedom from Foreign Oil” scorecard ranks lawmakers based on a composite score of eight roll call votes and co-sponsorships of three initiatives that would positively or negatively impact gas and energy prices.  Co-sponsorships of bills that would open America’s domestic energy sources were scored positively, while those that would continue restricting them were scored negatively.

The group ranked all 435 members of Congress and, while Congressman Kingston earned a perfect score, nearly half were named “Friends of Foreign Oil” for their support of policies that continue America’s dependence on foreign oil and hamstring efforts to bring down the price at the pump.

“Fighting high energy prices isn’t a partisan issue – it’s one every American must take up,” Congressman Kingston said.  “I appreciate Americans for Prosperity’s recognition of my efforts to bring relief to hard-working families.  I will continue my work to advocate for producing more American energy as the first step towards bringing down the price at the pump.”

Congressman Kingston has also been a long-time advocate for promoting alternative energy and the conservation of existing supplies.  Since 2005, he has teamed with Representative Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, to promote bipartisanship on the issue.

“If we truly want to realize our energy independence,” said Congressman Kingston, “we must make exploration part of a three-pronged approach that also increases innovation in alternative energy and promotes conservation of existing supplies.”
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