GOP will use spiking gas prices against climate bill

Republicans believe that rising gas prices are their trump card against a Democratic-sponsored climate change bill.

The GOP is struggling to regain footing after two successive electoral blowouts, but party leaders are relishing an opportunity to debate what they call a “national energy tax.”

{mosads}The Democrats’ plan of moving a cap-and-trade bill this summer plays into GOP hands because as the cost of gasoline spikes, so does the public’s awareness of energy prices, Republican leadership aides say.

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), the former House GOP conference chairman, said that the cost of gas is not likely to hit last summer’s national high of $4 a gallon, but he noted that oil prices have been creeping up recently.

Putnam said most Americans want to increase oil production, not restrict consumption, adding, “At some point, gas prices become a very potent political weapon again.”

Troy Green, spokesman for AAA, said that the cost of gas generally rises in the summer: “This is typically the time of year when we see the price of gas rise — the spring/summer run-up.”

Last month the national average price per gallon of self-serve gas was $2.05; now it is $2.27.

Republicans, who have been playing defense on housing, credit card reform and healthcare, claim they have a huge political advantage on energy.

Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) said, “As news comes in that arctic sea ice is at an eight-year record high and the trend of cooling in the Northern Hemisphere extends, it would appear the climate for the Democrats’ cap-and-trade bill isn’t very good. Timing the vote to coincide with the beginning of the summer spike in vacation travel and gas prices is just as logical. The issue is, can Democrat leaders convince [the] rank and file to vote irrationally?”

Some Democrats, most notably Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen (Md.), have expressed caution about voting on a climate change bill if it does not have a chance of attracting 60 votes in the Senate. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has indicated he is not anxious to take up a cap-and-trade bill.

Still, President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have stressed Congress must act soon to deal with global warming. Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a Pelosi ally, this week announced a compromise on his climate change bill and predicted he has the votes to move the legislation through his panel.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Wednesday indicated his chamber is moving full steam ahead. During a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hoyer said, “Major energy legislation is coming, and regulation combating global warming is coming as well.”

A year ago, Democrats were scrambling on their energy policies. In the midst of his presidential race against Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Obama backed a bipartisan compromise on energy that called for drilling.

{mospagebreak}Republicans spent most of the August recess protesting energy prices on the House floor. And under intense pressure amid record oil prices, Pelosi backed down and agreed to allow offshore drilling she had previously opposed.

The energy issue was clearly a winner for Republicans, as McCain and Obama were neck and neck in early September. It was the last time Republican leaders had the political wind at their backs.

After gas prices decreased, and the nation’s economy imploded, Obama pulled away and Democrats added significantly to their congressional majorities last fall.

{mosads}Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) believes history may repeat itself this summer, noting that many Americans are already struggling to pay their bills.

“If gas prices go up in the summer, it’s going to be more of a struggle,” she said.

A GOP leadership aide said Republicans are “dying” to have a cap-and-trade debate on the House floor.
Republican leadership aides said rank-and-file GOP members will be encouraged to attack the Democratic energy bill when they head home for Memorial Day, the traditional start of the summer driving season.

Republicans say they intend to be ready with a comprehensive alternative when the Democrats take the bill up on the floor, which could be as soon as next month.

Even though Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton (Texas) plans to offer a GOP substitute measure when the full panel marks up Waxman’s bill next week, the anticipated GOP conference-endorsed alternative will be drafted by the select energy solutions group that House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) created earlier this year.

The 21-member House GOP American Energy Solutions group, led by House Republican Conference Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.) and Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), is set to hold several town hall meetings at various stops across the country over the weeklong recess.

Pence announced that the panel would make stops in Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and California.

Pence told The Hill that they will emphasize different themes in the different cities. In Pittsburgh, Democratic Rep. Mike Doyle’s district, the group will hear from experts and people involved about the impact of cap-and-trade.

In Rep. Dan Burton’s (R-Ind.) district, and in California, “we’re going to be talking about energy solutions, energy alternatives,” Pence said.

Republican leadership aides anticipate that the final GOP alternative will include many facets of the “all of the above” energy plan they touted last summer.

Jim Snyder and Jared Allen contributed to this article.