The campaign of Christopher Shays is rummaging through its own video vault after GOP Senate nemesis Linda McMahon this morning released footage of the former congressman advocating a gas tax hike in 2008.
Shays, speaking to a gaggle of reporters on Capitol Hill in 2008, chided his then-colleagues in House for voting to adjourn during a debate on rising energy costs.
The footage aired on C-SPAN and is being circulated by Shays’ campaign.
The Fairfield County Republican said at the time that he was the only incumbent from New England who voted to stick around Washington to discuss energy policy.
“I think of myself candidly as pro-environment, pro-energy member of Congress. That’s the way I think of myself. I’m the only one in New England that seems to think we have a problem in New England. We have the highest energy costs in the country.”
Among those members of Congress who opted for adjournment, Shays’ campaign points out, was Chris Murphy, the Democratic frontrunner for Senate.
UPDATE: Murphy’s campaign manager Kenny Curran declined to comment.
Here is the video: