Democrats Aren’t Working: Gasoline Prices Reach All-Time Labor Day High

September 5, 2012

Democrats Aren’t Working: Gasoline Prices Reach All-Time Labor Day High

Families Can’t Afford More Of The Democrats’ Same Failed Energy Policy

As Democrats party at their convention in Charlotte, American families aren’t celebrating because gas skyrocketed to the highest Labor Day price in history.
Democrats refuse to take action to reduce the cost of gasoline for American families, rejecting proposals to improve our energy infrastructure, choosing special interests over middle class families.
All of this serves as a continuing reminder of the ever-growing costs of living in the Democrats’ economy.

As Democrats party at their convention in Charlotte, American families aren’t celebrating because gas skyrocketed to the highest Labor Day price in history.

GAS PRICES SOAR TO NATIONAL AVERAGE OF $3.83, A “RECORD HIGH” FOR LABOR DAY: “Prices at the pump reached a national average of $3.83 Monday, according to AAA, setting a record high for a Labor Day. The previous Labor Day record of $3.69 was set in 2008, at the height of the last presidential election fight.” (Andrew Restuccia, “Record-High Labor Day Gasoline Prices Greet Democrats In Charlotte,” Politico, 9/3/2012)

FAMILIES UNLIKELY TO SEE RELIEF, HIGH PRICES WILL REMAIN “AT OR NEAR RECORD HIGHS” THROUGH THE END OF 2012: “But high prices will probably linger. ‘While prices should drop in September barring any major developments, we expect gasoline to remain at or near record highs through the end of 2012,’ AAA spokesman Avery Ash said in a statement.” (Andrew Restuccia, “Record-High Labor Day Gasoline Prices Greet Democrats In Charlotte,” Politico, 9/3/2012)

SINCE OBAMA TOOK OFFICE, AVERAGE GAS PRICES HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED FROM $1.85: (“Gasoline And Diesel Fuel Update,” U.S. Energy And Information Administration, Accessed 9/4/12)

2012 LIKELY TO BE “COSTLIEST YEAR EVER AT THE PUMP”: “Gasoline prices are up sharply in the past month … and now are likely to make 2012 the costliest year ever at the pump. Nationally, gasoline averages $3.70 a gallon — up 30 cents since mid-July and is now higher than year-ago levels in 39 states. Prices are likely to continue climbing through August” (Gary Strauss, “2012 Gas Prices Head For Record,” USA Today, 8/15/2012)

Democrats refuse to take action to reduce the cost of gasoline for American families, rejecting proposals to improve our energy infrastructure, choosing special interests over middle class families.

OBAMA ADMINISTRATON REJECTED A $7 BILLION PIPLEINE LINKING CANADIAN ENERGY SOURCES TO REFINERIES ON THE GULF OF MEXICO: (Jake Tapper, Kirit Radia, John Parkinson, and Devin Dwyer, “President Obama Rejects Keystone XL Pipeline,” ABC News, 1/18/12)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MEMO: KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE WOULD REDUCE GASOLINE PRICES: “Gasoline prices in all markets served by [Gulf of Mexico Refineries]…would decrease, including the Midwest.” (Carmine Difiglio, Department of Energy Memorandum, 6/22/2011)

OBAMA PERSONALLY CALLED DEMS TO BLOCK KEYSTONE, DESPITE THE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AT STAKE: “The White House lobbying effort, including phone calls from the president to Democrats, signals that the vote could be close when it heads to the floor Thursday. The president is trying to defeat an amendment that would give election-year fodder to his Republican critics who have accused him of blocking a job-creating energy project at a time of high gas prices.” (Manu Raju, “Obama Lobbying Dems Over Keystone XL Pipeline,” Politico, 3/7/2012)

STATE DEPARTMENT: PIPELINE “POSES LITTLE ENVIRONMENTAL RISK.” “The State Department said Friday that a proposed pipeline slated to carry Canadian oil sands to Gulf Coast refineries poses little environmental risk if managed properly, a decision that moves the controversial project one step closer to final approval.” (Andrew Restuccia & Ben German, “Keystone Oil Sands Pipeline Moves One Step Closer To Approval,” The Hill, 8/26/11)

ENERGY SECRETARY CHU: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION NOT WORKING TO LOWER GAS PRICES DIRECTLY: “The Energy Department isn’t working to lower gasoline prices directly, Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday after a Republican lawmaker scolded him for his now-infamous 2008 comment that gas prices in the U.S. should be as high as in Europe. Instead, DOE is working to promote alternatives such as biofuels and electric vehicles… ‘No, [the overall goal is not to get our price’ of gasoline down] the overall goal is to decrease our dependency on oil, to build and strengthen our economy,’ Chu replied. ‘We think that if you consider all these energy policies, including energy efficiency, we think that we can go a long way to becoming less dependent on oil and [diversifying] our supply and we’ll help the American economy and the American consumers.’” (Alex Guillen, “Chu: DOE Aims To Wean U.S. Off Oil,” Politico, 2/28/12)

THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE WAS EXPECTED TO CREATE AS MANY AS 130,000 JOBS: “Many of those 20,000 jobs on the construction of the pipeline would have been filled by skilled union members. Eventually, the completed pipeline was expected to result in as many as 130,000 jobs, many of them on the upper Texas Coast, where the heavy oil would be refined into 700,000 barrels of oil daily.”(Editorial, “Keystone Pipeline Delay Is The Wrong Call,” Houston Chronicle, 11/11/11)

KEYSTONE REJECTION WAS POLITICAL PAYBACK FOR THE DEMOCRATS’ LEFT-WING “DONOR BASE” THAT OPPOSED THE PIPELINE: “Democrats outside the West Wing and Chicago-based campaign say the politics were clear: With the exceptions of the grousing unions (who will have no choice but to support him in 2012), the party’s donor base, environmental advocates down to their hybrid SUVs oppose the pipeline.” (Glenn Thrush and Darren Samuelsohn, “Keystone decision a political win-win,” Politico, 1/18/2012)

BLOCKING PIPELINE WAS A “POORLY DISGUISED POLITICAL PUNT” TO AVOID “OFFENDING ENVIRONMENTALISTS:” “The Obama administration’s decision to postpone a ruling on the fate of the Keystone XL pipeline till 2013 is a poorly disguised political punt. The ruling has 2012 presidential politics written all over it, despite the environmental reasons given. By delaying a decision on the $7 billion project, which is ‘shovel-ready’ and would immediately produce an estimated 20,000 well-paying jobs in this country, Obama has avoided offending environmentalists on his party’s left, a key fund-raising and voting bloc. We understand that. In a close election, these votes could make a crucial difference for the president. But the administration’s attempts to cover this self-evident situation with a variety of fig leaves are utterly disingenuous.” (Editorial, “Keystone Pipeline Delay Is The Wrong Call,” Houston Chronicle, 11/11/11)

All of this serves as a continuing reminder of the ever-growing costs of living in the Democrats’ economy.

46.7 MILLION AMERICANS ON FOOD STAMPS, UP FROM 32 MILLION IN JAN. 2009 WHEN OBAMA TOOK OFFICE: (“Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,” U.S. Department of Agriculture, 8/30/2012)

“US POVERTY ON TRACK TO RISE TO HIGHEST [LEVEL] SINCE 1960s”: (Hope Yen, “US Poverty on Track to Rise to Highest Since 1960s,” Associated Press, 7/23/2012)

Unemployment Rate STAYS Above Eight Percent For Record 42 Straight Months: (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 9/4/12)

HEALTHCARE COSTS TO RISE 7.4% AS OBAMACARE TAKES FULL EFFECT: “In 2014, health spending growth is expected to accelerate to 7.4 percent as the major coverage expansions from the Affordable Care Act begin.” (Sean P. Keehan, Gigi A Kuckler, et al, “National Health Expenditure Projections: Modest Annual Growth Until Coverage Expands and Economic Growth Accelerates,” Health Affairs, 6/12/12)

MEDICARE CUTS WILL “FORCE SENIORS TO PAY $3,700 MORE FOR THEIR HEALTHCARE BY 2017”: (Robert A. Book and James C. Capretta, “Reductions in Medicare Advantage Payments: The Impact on Seniors by Region,” The Heritage Foundation, 9/14/2010; James Capretta, “President Obama’s $700 Billion Medicare Problem,” National Review, 8/15/2012)

FOOD: FAMILIES FACING $500 A YEAR HIKE ON GROCERIES: “If USDA’s economists are correct, a family who spends $150 per week on groceries will now be spending $160 by next year, bumping their annual food budget up more than $500.” (Jim Avila and Lauren Ehrler, “Food Prices Could Rise 5 Percent in Next 5 Months,” ABC News, 7/25/2012)

HEALTH CARE: UNDER OBAMA, AVERAGE YEARLY FAMILY HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS INCREASED FROM $12,680 To $15,073: (“Employer Health Benefits, 2011 Annual Survey, Exhibit 1.11” Kaiser Family Foundation, 2011)

TAXES: DEM-BACKED TAXMAGEDDON WILL COST AVERAGE FAMILY $4,138 IN 2013: (“Taxmageddon Costs Average Family $4,138 Next year,” The Heritage Foundation, 6/14/2012)

COLLEGE: AVERAGE COST Of IN-STATE TUITION AT A FOUR YEAR COLLEGE HAS RISEN 25% FROM$6,585 To $8,244 SINCE OBAMA TOOK OFFICE: (“Trends In College Pricing 2009,” College Board, 2008; “Trends In College Pricing 2011,” College Board, 2011)

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