Dems Block Domestic Energy Production as High Gas Prices Make Bad Economy Worse
West Virginia Democrat Votes Against Creating American-Made Energy and American Jobs
Washington — When given the chance today, Nick Rahall voted to continue the Obama Administration’s anti-energy policies, even though middle-class families are still struggling under elevated gas prices that are holding the entire economy back. As his West Virginia constituents continue to see every aspect of their daily lives impacted by high gas prices, Rahall’s continuing opposition to domestic energy and creating jobs will surely disappoint.
“Nick Rahall’s continued opposition to American energy and jobs demonstrates how out of touch he is with his West Virginia constituents, who see the effects of high gas prices every day,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “Instead of lifting barriers to economic recovery his fellow Democrats have put in place, Rahall once again toed the party line and voted against domestic energy that would reduce our dependency on foreign oil and create jobs here in America.”
Gas prices will remain at considerably higher levels than even one year ago, forcing small businesses and middle-class families to bear that burden:
More families will even be forced to stay home for the Fourth of July holiday and high gas prices are to blame:
“High gas prices are to blame. Although they’ve inched lower in recent weeks, the average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.64 — about a dollar more than it was at this time last year. That’s enough to keep some Americans at home over the long weekend, according to Glen MacDonell, director of AAA Travel Services.”
(Catherine Clifford, “More Americans staying home for 4th of July weekend,” CNN Money, 6/22/11)Rahall voted Wednesday against the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act of 2011, which would remove red tape the Democrats have placed on new domestic energy production. (H.R. 2021, Roll Call Vote #478, Passed 253-166: R 230-2; D 23-164, 6/22/11)
Nick Rahall today had the opportunity to remove Democrat-imposed red tape that destroys jobs and continues our crippling dependence on foreign oil. Instead, Rahall chose to put his party leaders in Washington ahead of his constituents in West Virginia and voted to continue their policies which stifle American-made energy and jobs.