Obama 'focused like a laser beam' on gas prices, official says

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood responded to repeated Republican attempts to score political points on the increasing cost of gasoline Thursday by saying President Obama's administration was "focused like a laser beam" on gas prices in the country.
 
"I was at the White House yesterday and we were talking about what we can do," LaHood said, during an appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee's Transportation and Housing and Urban Development subcommittee. "The administration will be stepping up and providing leadership."
 
The national average price for a gallon of regular gas Thursday was $3.59, according to AAA. That's up from $3.17 a month ago and $2.76 a year ago. 

LaHood said the Department of Transportation was working with the EPA on increasing Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards as a long-term solution. Current standards call for cars to average 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016, though LaHood said there was already talk of even higher rules beyond that year.
 
"That's where I think we can play a role," he said of his department.
 
LaHood admitted that people were feeling the pinch.
 
"We know there are people out there who've lost their jobs who can hardly afford a gallon of gas, let alone at $4," he said.