Rahall Not Pushing for More Domestic Energy as Gas Prices Force Families to Cut Back Further

March 22, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Jason Altmire (PA-04), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Ben Chandler (KY-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Cooper (TN-05), Mark Critz (PA-12), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Maurice Hinchey (NY-22), Tim Holden (PA-17), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Steve Israel (NY-02), Dale Kildee (MI-05), Ron Kind (WI-03), David Loebsack (IA-02), Jim Matheson (UT-02), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Bill Owens (NY-23), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Gary Peters (MI-09), Nick Rahall (WV-03), Betty Sutton (OH-13), John Tierney (MA-06), Niki Tsongas (MA-05), Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Tim Walz (MN-01), Anthony Weiner (NY-09), John Yarmuth (KY-03)

Rahall Not Pushing for More Domestic Energy as Gas Prices Force Families to Cut Back Further

Polls Show West Virginia Democrat’s Lack of Meaningful Action Could Cost Him

Washington — As gas prices continue to rise, threatening economic recovery and forcing American families and businesses to cut back, Nick Rahall and his Democrat colleagues are still failing to lead on the issue of all-inclusive domestic energy production. Multiple polls emphasize how Rahall’s inaction could cost him, as the overwhelming majority of families are cutting back even more amidst rapidly rising gas prices. As his Democrat leaders like President Obama continue to drag their feet on domestic oil production, will Rahall finally take meaningful action to increase domestic energy production and lower gas prices?

“These multiple polls should be a wake-up call to Nick Rahall on how seriously rising gas prices are burdening families in West Virginia and threatening economic recovery,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Even former President Bill Clinton called the inaction of Rahall’s Democrat leaders on domestic energy production ‘ridiculous’ last week. Unfortunately for Rahall’s constituents, he doesn’t appear to recognize how ‘ridiculous’ his lack of leadership is.”

Multiple new polls show the vast majority of Americans are enduring hardships from rising gas prices:

“The survey indicates that two-thirds of all Americans say that rising gas prices have caused a hardship for their families, and nearly eight in 10 think that it is likely that the cost of gasoline could hit $5 a gallon by the end of the year.” (Paul Steinhauser, “CNN Poll: Gas price spike behind pessimism on economy,” CNN, 3/18/11)“More than 70 percent say they are spending fewer dollars on restaurants, movies and concerts, making leisure cutbacks the number one way the nation is economizing in the face of higher gas and food prices.”(Steve Liesman, “Economic Fears Spike as Gas, Food Prices Rise: Survey,” CNBC, 3/18/11)

And rapidly rising gas prices are threatening economic recovery and serving as another example of where Democrats are failing to lead:

“But economists are most fearful of one major headwind: oil prices. More than two-thirds of the 23 economists surveyed by CNNMoney identified high oil prices as the most serious risk facing the economy.” (Chris Isidore, “What has economists most on edge: Oil prices,” CNN, 3/21/11)

The consensus is clear from experts and the American people that Nick Rahall and his fellow Democrats need to step up and lead on rising gas prices. However, Rahall has still not taken meaningful action on expanding domestic energy production, which would reduce our dependency on foreign oil and also create quality jobs in the energy sector. As a result, Rahall is indeed looking rather “ridiculous” to his constituents in West Virginia.

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Nick Rahall for Congress