WALSH AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HOLD SPEAKER PELOSI ACCOUNTABLE FOR BROKEN PROMISES ON GAS PRICES
(Washington D.C.)- Two years ago this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised the American people a "commonsense" plan to lower gasoline prices, but House Democrats have not only failed to offer any meaningful solutions, they've put forward policies that will have the opposite effect. Since Democrats took control of Congress, gasoline prices have skyrocketed $1.20 per gallon nationally and $1.14 per gallon in New York. Regular unleaded now stands at $3.53/gal. nationally and $3.65/gal. in New York, according to AAA.
"The Democratic Majority is bent on ignoring history, which shows time and again that no nation can tax itself into prosperity," said Walsh. "Their disastrous policies with respect to addressing sky-high gas prices are further proof."
Gas prices rose more in the last 15 months than they did in the six years prior to Democrats taking control of both Houses of Congress in January 2007. In the 110th Congress, Democrats have voted four times to raise energy taxes. And amid rising gas prices, leading Democrats in the House want every motorist to pay 50 cents more in taxes on every gallon of gas they buy. Although surveys show nearly half of Americans oppose paying even one cent more in gas taxes, Democrat Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) has called for a 50-cent tax hike on every gallon of gas they buy.
With reports indicating gasoline prices are beginning to hit $4 per gallon, the Pelosi Premium hits working families hard at a time when they are confronting soaring costs of living, a slowing economy, and a housing crunch. Middle class families and their increasingly tight budgets need relief, not more broken promises.
While House Democrats propose more of the same - tax increases - House Republicans have offered real common-sense solutions to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy, lower gas prices here at home, and invest in all forms of energy, including additional domestic refining capicity, to create American jobs and grow our economy.