The 99%: How Much More Americans Are Paying for Gas in the Obama Economy

April 2, 2012

The Democrats’ War on Energy is Big on Political Gimmicks, But Short on Relief from the Economic Hardship Caused by Rising Energy Prices

Gas prices continue to reach new record highs in the Obama economy, with numbers out last week showing a 99% increase in gas prices since President Obama took office.
The Democrats are responding to these rising gas prices by using Obama’s EPA to ram through none-of-the-above energy regulations that will further increase energy prices and expose middle class families to even more economic hardship.
The surest sign that the Democrats are committed to their war on energy is that their only response to the economic pain caused by rising gas prices is political gimmickry and press conferences, rather than finally supporting an all-of-the-above energy strategy for America.

Gas prices continue to reach new record highs in the Obama economy, with numbers out last week showing a 99% increase in gas prices since President Obama took office:

99%: THE AMOUNT GAS PRICES HAVE INCREASED UNDER OBAMA, THE HIGHEST GAS PRICE INCREASE SINCE CARTER: ($1.928/gallon in Feb 2009; $3.843/gallon on 3/29/2012) (Series ID: APU000074714, “Gasoline, Unleaded Regular, Per Gallon/3.785 Liters,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, Accessed 3/29/2012; “Petroleum & Other Liquids,” U.S. Energy Information Administration, Accessed 3/29/2012)

84% OF CONSUMERS FORCED TO CHANGE LIFESTYLE BECAUSE OF GAS PRICE HARDSHIP: “Nationally, 84% of those responding to an AAA survey released earlier this month say they’ve changed their routines as a result of soaring fuel prices.” (Chris Woodyard, “High Gas Prices? Some Consumers Just Say No,”USA Today, 3/30/2012)

The Democrats are responding to these rising gas prices by using Obama’s EPA to ram through none-of-the-above energy regulations that will further increase energy prices and expose middle class families to even more economic hardship:

REPORT: “EPA REGS COULD HAMPER OIL, NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION, REPORT SAYS”: (Ben Wolfgang, “EPA Regs Could Hamper Oil, Natural Gas Production, Report Says,” The Washington Times, 3/15/2012)

OIL PRODUCTION COULD DROP 37%, NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION COULD DROP 11%: “Domestic oil and natural gas production could plummet if proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations, designed to limit emissions from well sites, go into effect later this year, industry leaders said Thursday.

“The natural gas extraction technique known as ‘fracking’ would be hardest hit, and fuel extracted via the popular process would drop by about 52 percent, according to a new study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute. Total gas production would decrease by about 11 percent, while domestic oil production could fall by as much as 37 percent, the report says.”(Ben Wolfgang, “EPA Regs Could Hamper Oil, Natural Gas Production, Report Says,” The Washington Times, 3/15/2012)

“UNTOLD STORY” BEHIND RISING GAS PRICES IS REFINERIES BEING DRIVEN OUT OF BUSINESS “IN NO SMALL PART BY COSTLY EPA RULES”:“The untold story behind soaring pump prices is that major U.S. refineries are going out of business and creating at least regional shortages thanks in no small part to costly EPA rules.” (Editorial, “EPA’s Heavy Hand Seen In Gas Crisis,”Investor’s Business Daily, 3/22/2012)

OVER LAST SIX MONTHS, THREE REFINERIES SUPPLYING HALF EAST COAST GASOLINE HAVE CLOSED: “Over just the past six months, three refineries supplying about half the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to the East Coast have closed, including two owned by Sunoco Inc. They say they simply cannot make money anymore.” (Editorial, “EPA’s Heavy Hand Seen In Gas Crisis,” Investor’s Business Daily, 3/22/2012)

IHS STUDY: OBAMA ADMIN SLOWWALKING PERMITS AFTER MORATORIUM OFFICIALLY ENDED: “A study by the business-consultant firm IHS found that the federal government issued 51 new drilling permits in the year following the lifting of the drilling moratorium. That was down from 157 annual permits approved before the regulations took effect.” (Bill McMorris,“Obama’s Energy Slowdown,” The Washington Free Beacon, 3/13/2012)

The surest sign that the Democrats are committed to their war on energy is that their only response to the economic pain caused by rising gas prices is political gimmickry and press conferences, rather than finally supporting an all-of-the-above energy strategy for America:

HUH? OBAMA HELD PHOTO OP IN OKLAHOMA TO CLAIM HE WILL “PUSH AGENCIES ON KEYSTONE PERMIT”… WHICH HE BLOCKED, REPEATEDLY:(“Obama to Push Agencies on Keystone Permit,” Reuters, 3/21/2012)

LOCAL JOB CREATORS AND WORKERS, OKLAHOMA STATE PAPER PROTESTED OBAMA’S POLITICAL GIMMICKRY IN OKLAHOMA: “But he’ll once again be greeted by protestors, this time in the form of fossil fuel industry officials and workers. The Oklahoman isn’t rolling out the welcome mat either, with the newspaper running three separate op-eds today criticizing Obama’s energy policies.” (Patrick Reis, Politico’s ”Morning Energy,” 3/21/2012)

AN EXPLANATION: WHITE HOUSE OPTS FOR “MEDIA BLITZ” TO “CONTAIN THE DAMAGE” FROM THEIR ANTI-ENERGY POLICIES: (Darren Samuelsohn and Darren Goode, “Obama’s Media Blitz on Gas Prices,” Politico, 3/12/2012)

OBAMA ACTIVELY “LOBBIED DEMOCRATS” IN MARCH TO BLOCK KEYSTONE APPROVAL, DEFERRING TO RADICAL INTEREST-GROUPS:“Obama lobbied Democrats earlier this month to block a GOP bid to force approval of the Keystone project, which environmentalists have rallied against.” (Dina Cappiello, “Obama to Fast-Track Oil Pipeline, Other Projects,” Associated Press, 3/21/2012)

OBAMA MADE PERSONAL PHONE CALLS TO TOP DEMS TO BLOCK KEYSTONE OUT OF FEAR OF GIVING “ELECTION-YEAR FODDER” TO GOP, NEVER MIND THE 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)

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)