House GOP seeks to pin $4 gasoline on Democrats

With the AAA reporting that the average national cost for gasoline crossed the $4-mark for the first time, House Republicans on Sunday sought to lay the blame for record prices at the doorstep of congressional Democrats.

“Today marks another dubious day for this Do-Nothing Democratic Congress,” House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) stated. “On their watch, gas prices have soared to new heights, and by refusing to schedule a vote on a plan to increase American-made energy to help lower gas prices, congressional Democrats are complicit in this unprecedented surge in fuel costs.”

{mosads}Boehner touted the GOP’s plan to reduce the burden at the pump and blasted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for not bringing it to a vote.

“Every American has a right to ask: What will it take for the Democrat-controlled Congress to finally take action and help ease the pain of the Pelosi Premium on behalf of struggling families and small businesses?” Boehner stated. “Speaker Pelosi has the power to schedule a vote on our plan to begin breaking America’s costly dependence on foreign sources of energy. She should not wait another day to do so.”

House Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) added: “Enough is enough. It’s time for Democratic leaders in D.C. to put American interests above their special interests – and allow a vote on increasing America’s homegrown energy supply. We’ve tried it their way — and with $4 gas as the result, it’s time to do something worthwhile for the American people.”

Democrats, who label the Republican plans a “drill and veto” energy policy, say President Bush is to blame.

“Democrats are working to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce gas prices, launch a cleaner, smarter energy future for America that creates hundreds of thousands of green jobs and helps save our planet,” Pelosi said in response to oil prices reaching another record high.

The Speaker pointed to efforts the 110th Congress has taken to boost the country’s energy security and curb prices.

“In just the last few months, Congress successfully pressed the Bush Administration into investigating oil market price manipulation, passed a Farm Bill that boosts home-grown, advanced biofuels production, halted deliveries to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase oil supply in the market, and passed legislation that invests in clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies, including tax incentives for plug-in hybrid cars, energy efficient homes and appliances,” she stated. “By July 4th, we will work to develop other innovative energy independence legislation that addresses high energy costs and continues to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and we will look into speculation in the energy futures market.”

Democrats also claim that GOP criticisms are hypocritical because Republican leaders have largely opposed their efforts to promote renewable energies, fight price gouging and OPEC price fixing.

In a tough electoral landscape for Republicans, the GOP hopes to turn voter anger over gas prices into dissatisfaction with the Democratic Congress.

“The American people need no reminder that gas prices have reached historically painful highs,” said Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) in a statement Sunday. “Yet Democrats in Congress seem oblivious to the damage their inaction is causing. Unmoved by calls for solutions, their energy policy has been one of dormancy. Today we have reached four dollars per gallon. How much further must gas prices rise before House Democrat leaders open their eyes to the dire need for action?”