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Congressional Democrats and Republicans used their Saturday radio addresses to continue their war of words about gasoline prices, each accusing the other of blocking efforts to reduce the cost of fuel. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) said Republicans want to increase domestic energy production, clear the bureaucratic path for new refineries, push for more nuclear plants to generate electricity and enact tax breaks for “green” homes. But he said Democratic leaders who control Congress have refused to advance the energy legislation he has introduced. “Rather than hearing bipartisan solutions, the Democrats have insisted on a partisan agenda absent of any solutions that would bring real relief to the American people,” Roskam said. Senate Democrats tapped a father of three from Auburn, N.Y., to make the case that their efforts to repeal tax subsidies for oil companies, enact tax incentives for development of alternative energy and fight climate change is the best response to the rising cost of gasoline. Jeff Alberici said the cost to fill up his gas tank has doubled and the family’s weekly grocery bill has shot from $125 to $200. “Republicans are spending their time blocking Democrats from getting anything done at all, including those three bills to lower energy costs,” Alberici said. “And that’s the difference: Democrats are trying to change things, but Republicans only want more of the same old ideas that got us into this mess in the first place.” The average price of gas Saturday was $4.07, according to AAA, $1.04 higher than a year ago. The two parties have been sniping back and forth as the price has shot up. Republicans have dubbed the run-up in prices since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) took office in January 2007 “the Pelosi Premium.” Democrats say prices started going up after President Bush took office and have started highlighting the petroleum background of Bush and Vice President Cheney. “Two oil men in the White House, cost of oil four times higher, price at the pump $4 a gallon,” Pelosi said last week. Democrats also scored against Republicans when it was revealed that a favored Republican talking point in the debate – that Chinese are drilling off the Cuban coast 60 miles from Florida – is false. Cheney, who’d used the line in a recent speech, issued a statement acknowledging the error. Pelosi is pressing Republican leaders to do the same. |
