House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D- MD) focused on the rising price of gas in his weekly sit-down with reporters. He showed a series of charts that indicated the rise in the price of gas over the last 16 years. Under the Clinton administration, Hoyer said, the price of gasoline went from $1.06 to $1.46 in the course of Clinton's eight years. A separate chart demonstrated that under the Bush administration gas has gone from $1.46 to $4.06, which is the current national average. This is the House Democrat response to the campaign against the "Pelosi Premium" pointing out the price rise under Bush instead of under Democratic majority in Congress. All of Hoyer's data came from the Energy Information Administration at the Department of Energy.
Hoyer admitted that across Congress all the energy plans being offered are mostly designed at long term relief. He said that Democrats have done their part to reduce prices by passing anti-gouging legislation and working toward regulation of speculators, but that there are very few things that Congress can do to reduce prices in the short term. In response to the Republican measures that call for more drilling and more refining capacity, Hoyer pointed out statistics that suggested that drilling in ANWR would only lead to a 1.8 cent drop in gas prices by 2030.
Hoyer also mentioned Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) introducing articles of impeachment against President George Bush, taking up a total of four and a half hours of floor time. Hoyer said that he expect this to be referred to committing with out a second read-through, effectively tabling the bill.
Gas rose $0.40 under Clinton, $2.60 under Bush
Hoyer admitted that across Congress all the energy plans being offered are mostly designed at long term relief. He said that Democrats have done their part to reduce prices by passing anti-gouging legislation and working toward regulation of speculators, but that there are very few things that Congress can do to reduce prices in the short term. In response to the Republican measures that call for more drilling and more refining capacity, Hoyer pointed out statistics that suggested that drilling in ANWR would only lead to a 1.8 cent drop in gas prices by 2030.
Hoyer also mentioned Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) introducing articles of impeachment against President George Bush, taking up a total of four and a half hours of floor time. Hoyer said that he expect this to be referred to committing with out a second read-through, effectively tabling the bill.