Fighting Washington – Rising Gas Prices

June 25, 2012

As you have seen across your district, gas prices are approaching $4 or more per gallon, with the Associated Press reporting over the weekend that, “gasoline prices have never been higher this time of the year.” Under President Obama’s watch gas prices have nearly doubled. Just as disconcerting is Democrats’ efforts to block more American-made energy production at every turn – from their refusal to back bipartisan, House-passed energy bills to the rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline.

These rising gas prices provide a great opportunity to highlight Washington’s failed policies that are contributing to high gas prices and threatening our fragile economy. You could consider doing an earned media event on this issue by visiting local gas stations to talk to consumers about what high gas prices mean to their family budget or consider asking your opponent why they opposes building the Keystone Pipeline that would increase our energy independence.

Below are a few good resources. If you and your team would like help with ideas for an earned media event, please don’t hesitate.

All best,
Nat

RESOURCES:

AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Website updates daily and has average gas prices for most major markets.

Keystone Pipeline. Click HERE for the Roll Call vote on the North American-Made Energy Security Act, which required President Obama to issue a final decision on the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline no later than Nov. 1, 2011. For information on how House Republicans are addressing rising gas prices check out the American Energy Initiative Facebook page and at speaker.gov/energy.

National Energy Tax. Click HERE for the 2009 Roll Call vote on the House Democrats’ Cap and Trade bill that would have destroyed millions of jobs and raised energy costs for American families.

KEY FACTS:

“Gas Prices Are Highest Ever For This Time Of Year”: (Chris Kahn, “Gas Prices are Highest Ever for This Time of Year,” Associated Press, 2/18/2012)

Gas Prices $1.61 Per Gallon Higher Under Obama: (“Petroleum & Other Liquids,” U.S. Energy Information Administration, Accessed 2/20/2012)

Obama White House Says Rising Gas Prices Just "An Annual Affair Bolstered By Media Hysteria." "The administration officials brushed off the brewing political storm over rising gas prices as an annual affair bolstered by media hysteria. They said the White House anticipated the current spike in gas prices, which they attribute to increased demand around the world, particularly from China." (Carol E. Lee, "Obama To Talk About Gasoline Prices On Thursday," The Wall Street Journal ‘s Washington Wire , 2/21/12)

Energy Secretary Stephen Chu In September 2008: “Somehow We Have To Figure How To Boost The Price Of Gasoline To The Levels In Europe”: “ ‘Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe,’ Mr. Chu, who directs the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal in September.” (Neil King, Jr. and Stephen Power, “Times Tough for Energy Overhaul,” The Wall Street Journal, 12/12/2008)

Obama Wanted Energy Prices To “Necessarily Skyrocket” Under His Cap-And-Trade Plan: “ ‘Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket,’ Obama told the Chronicle. ‘Coal-powered plans, you know, natural gas, you name it, whatever the plans were, whatever the industry was, they would have to retrofit their operations. That will cost money. They will pass that money on to consumers.” (Catherine Richert, “Pence Claims that Obama said Energy Costs Will Skyrocket with a Cap-and-Trade Plan,” PolitiFact.com, 6/11/2009)

Washington Democrats continue to push the same failed policies that are contributing to high gas prices and economic misery:

“The Anti-Jobs President” Rejects Job-Creating Keystone Pipeline: (Editorial, “The Anti-Jobs President,” The Wall Street Journal, 1/19/2012)

Green Groups Threatened To Abandon Obama If He Approved Keystone: “Environmental groups have been protesting the pipeline that would run from Alberta oil sands to Texas refineries, and there have been rumblings that greens would abandon Obama next fall if he approved it.” (Dan Berman and Darren Goode, “Obama Punts Keystone XL Pipeline,” Politico, 11/10/2011)

National Journal Analysis: “U.S. Economy Missed Out On Creating Up To A Quarter-Million Jobs” In 2011 Because It “Lacked [Energy] Infrastructure”: “The U.S. economy missed out on creating up to a quarter-million jobs this year because it lacked the infrastructure to capitalize on a rare divergence in global oil prices, a National Journal analysis shows.” (Jim Tankersley, “A Crude Hit to the Recovery,” National Journal, 11/29/2011)

Increasing Energy Infrastructure Through Keystone Xl Would Limit Price Spikes In Future: “There’s no evidence that the oil industry manipulated the price spread to boost refining profits; the companies just appear to be benefiting from the nation’s inability to move cheaper oil around freely. Energy industry groups say expanding America’s pipeline infrastructure – including potential Obama administration approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to carry oil south from Canada – would minimize the odds of another wide price split in the future.” (Jim Tankersley, “A Crude Hit to the Recovery,” National Journal, 11/29/2011)