Gibbs predicts ‘clamoring’ for energy bill as gas prices rise

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday predicted that there will be “clamoring” for energy legislation when the typical summer rise in gasoline prices gets underway.

But Gibbs also signaled that energy legislation is not a top priority for the White House this year even though President Obama remains supportive of action.

Gibbs said the biggest priorities after the health care debate wraps up are financial regulatory reform and addressing a recent Supreme Court ruling that knocked down restrictions on corporate political spending. He also noted tax credits for small business hiring and other jobs measures.

Obama met with senators and cabinet officials to discuss climate change and energy legislation Tuesday, and is also meeting Thursday with Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to discuss immigration reform.

“Immigration is something that the President has supported for quite some time, and energy has made it through the House, and my guess is there will be a clamoring for an energy bill when gas prices go up, as they normally do, as we get closer to more driving as we get closer to the summer,” Gibbs said in a briefing. “So I think the President is trying to get an update on each of these issues to see what the pathway forward is.”

Asked if Obama wants action on energy and immigration this year, Gibbs replied “absolutely,” but then added:

“It’s got to be more than the President wants to get something done. The President is going to ask, as he did in the energy meeting and as he will when he meets with Schumer and Graham, to see what progress they’ve made in aligning their colleagues for the type of reform that all three support. That’s what’s going to be key to moving any of these issues forward.”