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NC Democrats (Again) Call on Republicans in Washington to Lower Gas Prices
N.C. Has Seen 112% Increase in Gasoline Prices Under Bush;
Congressional Vote on Sham Energy Bill This Week
Raleigh - With gas prices soaring 54% nationwide and 112% in North Carolina since Bush took office, North Carolina Democrats called on the President and the Republican majority in Congress today to take action to deal with the biggest crisis facing America's working families. When he first ran for President in 2000, Bush said he would press oil producing countries to increase oil supplies and drive down prices. However, since taking office he has done nothing to curb the skyrocketing costs of gasoline, and has instead used the crisis to further an agenda that benefits special interests and hurts the environment.
"President Bush has ignored the most immediate problem facing North Carolina's working families: the rising cost of gasoline," said North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek. "Skyrocketing fuel prices are making it costly for working families to take care of everyday needs like getting to work, taking their children to school, and driving to their local supermarket. North Carolinians are paying over twice as much as they were for gas when Bush took office and have seen an increase over twice the national average. The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gas is $2.20 and rising in our state! Republicans need to set aside their sham energy plan and pass legislation that will do more to make us independent of foreign oil and keeps gas prices down for the long haul."
The New York Times reported that although the President's energy bill "would do little or nothing to address the current spike in crude oil and gasoline prices," the President hoped to capitalize on growing public concerns to push Congress to act quickly on it. [New York Times, 4/18/05] Even the President himself acknowledged yesterday, ""I wish I could simply wave a magic wand and lower gas prices tomorrow," the President told a gathering...The bill "wouldn't change the price at the pump today," he said. "I know that, and you know that." [New York Times, 4/21/05]
The President's energy bill currently before Congress would grant $8 billion in tax breaks to the energy industry according to the Washington Post. The bill would also shield chemical makers from lawsuits stemming from the contamination of our nation's water supplies by the chemical MTBE.
"President Bush and the Republicans in Washington have already done enough for their fat-cat contributors and their friends in the oil industry," added Chairman Meek. "It's time for them to work to reduce gas prices and make it easier for families in America to put food on the table for their children. I call on Sens. Dole and Burr and Republican U.S. Representatives Coble, Taylor, Jones, Myrick, Hayes, McHenry, and Foxx to stand up for North Carolina's families and against the President's sham of an energy bill. We need to be pushing for conservation and energy efficiency, not just more drilling."