Murray says Bush, GOP block energy solutions (radio address)

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Sen. Patty Murray says Democrats have a plan to combat record-high gas prices, but President Bush and Republicans in Congress are standing in the way.

When Bush took office seven years ago, gas was $1.46 a gallon, said Murray, D-Wash. "Today, in my state, it's more than triple that. Clearly there's something wrong with these tired policies."

While there's no simple solution, some reasonable steps can be taken now to reduce oil prices, Murray said Saturday in the Democrats' weekly radio address.

"Bush-McCain Republicans haven't come up with anything more than drill, drill, drill," she said. "Even John McCain recently admitted that his offshore drilling proposal has mainly 'psychological' benefits. Our families don't need to 'feel better' about spending four dollars and-a-half per gallon. American families need real action that gets real results."



Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_democrats_energy.html

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Senator Murray Delivers the Democratic Radio Address
I don’t know what President Bush thinks, but four and half dollar a gallon gas is an emergency for America’s families. When was the last time the President filled his own tank?
http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/07/senator_murray.php

[Andy823]

1. OK I agree

With what she said:

"First, oil companies should drill in 68 million acres of federal land already leased for such use - nearly doubling U.S. production, Murray said. The president also should tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve - available for use in emergencies - and work with Democrats to crack down on Wall Street traders who are unfairly driving up oil prices by buying huge quantities of oil just to resell at a higher price, Murray said.

Murray is my senator, and I agree with what she said, but what I have a problem with is why has congress waited so long to do something about the high price of gas? This has been going on since Bush took office, and every year the price goes up, and every year the big oil companies make "record" profits from the previous year. So my question is why have we waited till the price has gotten to the point where it is causing so much difficulty for the average American family?

I want so see congress do their job, and that job is to take care of the people of this country, not cater to the wealthy, and the big corporations. We heard all kinds of promises back in 2006 when the democrats took control of congress, yet nothing has been done till now, another election year, and so far the only thing that has been done is to make this all a political issue. Why didn't they come up with answers the last two years they have been in charge of things? Why haven't they stood their ground and not backed down to Bush and the republicans?

I have a serious problem with the big "talk" and no action. If they would have gone after the speculators at least last year, maybe we wouldn't be paying such high prices now at the pump. I say get some backbone Patty, get the rest of the democrats in congress to stand up to Bush and do something before the election. Show the country that the democrats will support them, and that they will stand up to greed, price manipulation, corruption, and criminal wrong doings by this administration and the republicans in congress!

[TheFarseer]

2. Where are the long-term solutions?

I'm getting a little tired of not seeing any long-term solutions from the Dems. None from the Pugs either, but we expect that. I think most of us can agree to try cut down on speculation and drilling on already leased land, but I do not agree with releasing the strategic petroleum reserve and I don't see how I can put geothermal energy in my gas tank. If you want to say "encourage plug-in hybrids and encourage wind farms and geothermal to supply the electricity" then fine, but that isn't what she said. I'm sad to see this disconnect. Wind power in and of itself, does not get gas into my tank!

[paparush]

3. CAFE standards? Is NO ONE even going to mention making our cars more efficient?

God, I hate this corporate-controlled government.

Virtually no talk about being more efficient.

Virtually no talk about using less.