Obey Supports Legislation to Address Rising Energy Costs
Obey Supports legislation
to address rising energy costs
Warns That There Are No Short-Term Solutions For Record High Gas Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey (D-WI) today co-sponsored legislation intended to prevent price gouging by big oil companies and provide real long term relief to families in Wisconsin and across America who are paying record prices at the pump and at home.
"Skyrocketing oil and gas prices are putting the squeeze on the pocketbooks of American families and the economy, but there are no quick fixes that can be made," said Obey. "We're all paying the price now for the decisions Congress made over the last twenty-five years, over my objections, which gutted many energy initiatives begun by President Carter during the last energy crisis."
Noting that it takes a long time to bring other sources of energy online and to develop the technology that can be used to confront this problem, Obey added that "if those initiatives had been maintained over the last two decades we would have a much more effective energy policy in place and many of the energy problems we're facing now would be much less severe. Instead, anything that's done now is simply catch-up."
"Unfortunately, the recently passed energy bill and it's $14 billion give away in federal subsidies to big oil companies shows that the Republican leadership isn't interested even in catch-up," said Obey. "Of course, if they are going to get serious and stop rewarding the energy folks, there are some things we can do."
Obey supports legislation that will:
v Crack down on gas price gouging by oil companies by giving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to prosecute those who abuse consumers.
v Encourage lower prices and greater consumer confidence by requiring oil companies to operate more openly, including the disclosure of how they determine their wholesale prices.
v Reduce U.S. oil demand by 2.6 million barrels a day by raising the fuel efficiency standards that automobiles must meet from 25 miles per gallon to 33 miles per gallon.
"These bills won't solve everything," concluded Obey. "But perhaps they can help prod the Congress into meaningful action to protect consumers."
http://obey.house.gov/HoR/WI07/Newsroom/Press+Releases/Obey+Supports+Measures+To+Lower+Energy+Costs.htm