Who's to blame for gas prices?
By Staff
Jerry Fancher
Who do you think is to blame for the high price of gasoline?
Each political party blames the other. Do you think both parties share the blame for this one?
On Wednesday President Bush urged Congress to lift the long-standing ban on off shore drilling. On Monday, Senator John McCain made the lifting of the offshore drilling ban a key part of his energy plan.
The Democrats quickly rejected the idea.
Senator Barack Obama said, "This is not something that's going to give consumers short-term relief and it is not a long-term solution to our problems with fossil fuels generally and oil in particular."
I anxiously wait to hear what his solution to the problem will be.
Senator Obama offered no solution to the problem, but pointed out that Senator McCain had flip-flopped on the issue.
Wake up Senator Obama. We need leadership on this issue that is bankrupting the United States.
Senator Nancy Pelosi accused President Bush of "…wanting to give away more public resources."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid rejected the ideas as a "cynical campaign ploy" that would not lower gasoline prices.
The Democrats have not come up with any policies to help us with our energy crisis. With the election just over four months away, I think we deserve to hear their proposals.
President Bush also proposed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, lifting restrictions on oil shale leasing in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and easing the regulatory process to expand oil refining capacity.
I believe these are all long past due.
President Bush noted oil exploration off the coastline can be done in a way that is out of site and protects the environment.
If I were a Middle East oil sheik, I would not be in favor of the energy policies that Senator McCain and President Bush proposed this week.
I urge you to call Senator Obama, Senator Reid, and Representative Pelosi and tell them your views on solving our energy crisis.
Jerry Fancher is Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Executive Committee. He can be reached via email at jfanchergop@yahoo.com.
