Pelosi's replies to GOP's call for a "commonsense" plan to lower gas prices
Fresh off her approval of the White House's push for high CAFE standards by 2015, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has written a letter (available after the jump) to Republican leader John Boehner over gas prices. The letter is a response to the GOP's challenge on Tuesday that Pelosi should release her plan to lower gas prices. As part of their challenge, the GOP said they"respectfully request that you reveal this 'commonsense plan' so we can begin work on responsible solutions to help ease this strain."
Pelosi's basic message in the letter is to say that the "New Direction Congress" (is that what we have now?) is working on ways to promote American energy independence through moves that promote renewable fuels. She lists four bills that address fuel and energy issues, and doesn't forget to mention that the majority of Republicans were against two of them. Isn't it great how they can argue while we're paying through the nose?
Press Release:
Pelosi to Boehner: Join Us to Lower Gas Prices
WASHINGTON, April 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi sent the following letter today to House Republican Leader John Boehner in response to a letter sent to the Speaker yesterday by the GOP leadership.
Below is a text of the letter:
April 23, 2008
The Honorable John A. Boehner
House Republican Leader
H-204, The Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515
Thank you for your letter from the House GOP leadership yesterday on the issue of gas prices.
As you know, the New Direction Congress has passed several pieces of legislation to promote American energy independence, prevent the manipulation of oil prices, punish those who cheat consumers, and promote the development and use of renewable fuels.
The No Oil Producing and Exporting Cartels (NOPEC) Act -- H.R. 2264
This legislation enables the Department of Justice to take legal action against OPEC-controlled entities for participating in oil cartels that drive up oil prices globally and in the United States. It does so by making clear that OPEC-controlled entities are not covered by the provisions of the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act when acting in a commercial capacity; and it authorizes the Department of Justice to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts against cartel members. Passed: May 22, 2007; 345-72 (Dem: 220-5, Rep: 125-67).
The Energy Price Gouging Act -- H.R. 1252
This legislation will reduce the burden of rising gas prices on American families, providing immediate relief to consumers by giving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to investigate and punish those who artificially inflate the price of energy. It ensures the federal government has the tools it needs to adequately respond to energy emergencies and prohibit price gouging -- with a priority on refineries and big oil companies. Passed: May 23, 2007; 284-141 (Dem: 228-1, Rep: 56-140).
Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 -- H.R. 5351
With Exxon Mobil ranked as the most profitable company in 2007 today, it is unnecessary for taxpayers to subsidize Big Oil. This bill will end unnecessary subsidies to Big Oil companies and invest in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. It will extend and expand tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances. These provisions are critical to creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. And the preservation of existing jobs relies on them too: a recent study showed that allowing the renewable energy incentives to expire would lead to about 116,000 jobs being lost in the wind and solar industries through the end of 2009. Passed: February 27, 2008; 236-182 (Dem: 219-8, Rep: 17-174).
Market Manipulation Provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 -- signed into law in December -- made it unlawful for any person to report false information on the wholesale price of gasoline or petroleum and required the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce and punish those found guilty of market manipulation. It is imperative that the FTC act now to crack down on these abusive practices.
I have enclosed a chart that displays the Republican leadership's record on these crucial pieces of legislation.
Yesterday, I wrote to the President encouraging him to support these initiatives. I hope that you will also join us in our effort.
Again, thank you for your letter, and I look forward to working together on behalf of America's working families.
best regards,
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House
[Source: Office of the Speaker of the House ]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 4:16PM (4/24/2008)
Isn't it funny how we all are waiting for private industry to offer solutions to the problems (ie EVs).
Word to the wise: Government--stop meddling in things. Stop spending our dollars and leave it in our hands to spend as we please to support these industries that actually succeed.
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mike 4:22PM (4/24/2008)
Dave,
I agree, but first, get government to Break Up the Auto-Oil Monopoly, then the "free" market would actually work.
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Richard 4:38PM (4/24/2008)
As far as I see it, high gas prices are changing the way we buy cars. Smaller cars are more popular now than ever and since the price of gas isn't coming down anytime soon, you bet his is the solution.
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Mark 4:42PM (4/24/2008)
People that lobby for energy independance or for low carbon emissions or for people to drive less or for people to buy environmentally 'responsible' cars or for people to use more mass transit should NOT NOT NOT NOT lobby for or promise low oil prices. If you think you can suspend the law of supply and demand you live on some other planet. Government can mandate safety nets to help people that are truly hurt (not just annoyed) by the true cost of our gasoline addiction - but they should encourage prices to go higher on gasoline itself. THEN maybe the market would find alternatives.
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paul.stoller 4:40PM (4/24/2008)
There are two ways to get prices to go down. Decrease demand, or increase supply. There are no short term solutions.
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Mike Z 5:00PM (4/24/2008)
I'm tired of the dems blaming this all on 'Big Oil' ---'Big Oil' is is scared right now as they struggle to find new reserves. Personally, I think they are scared of the high prices too, as they have lost all control on being able to forecast the future market conditions.
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Jimbo 5:25PM (4/24/2008)
I agree with most of what's already been said. However, I still think it's ridiculous that we are subsidizing the oil companies with public money.
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Dad 5:38PM (4/24/2008)
When pelosi and the Dems took over, they said the first 100 days would be memorable. Yep, YAWN. They took over and they did nothing. They still blame evryone else. So typical.
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Mike Z 5:34PM (4/24/2008)
Well most of the subsides are in the form of how the tax code promotes domestic exploration activities--a very risky business activity (dry holes are not cheap). Though most domestic oil exploration is no long something that big oil concerns it with much anymore--it is mostly for small independent oil companies.
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Mark 6:34PM (4/24/2008)
How about this...
Eliminate the tax cuts/subsidies to Big Oil and re-route that money to research on electrical cars.
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rar 6:41PM (4/24/2008)
Dad, you are right about the first 100 days, but what has happened over the last 7 years that was so great?
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dhofmann 7:08PM (4/24/2008)
Apparently, Pelosi doesn't understand that "how can we make it possible for Americans to maintain their gluttonous, environmentally destructive lifestyles" is the wrong question.
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jmspearman 10:12PM (4/24/2008)
It's about time we started paying high prices for gas. Since the Republicans are always ranting about market driven solutions...well, now they have one. Here's a market driven solution that in twenty or so years will ironically make OPEC and oil a moot point, assuming we can A) Move to more wind and solar B) Drive high-efficiency and eventually electric vehicles, and C) consume a bit less. We don't need as many semi-trucks on the road if we aren't buying more than we can afford or need.
The worst thing we could do now is artificially drive prices down since it would stymie the huge investments that have been pouring into alternative energy in the past couple of years. We need to take our lumps and start driving cars that get better fuel economy.
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Lad 1:46AM (4/25/2008)
I'm driving less and I don't intent to buy another new car until they are BEVs and are priced so I can afford one. I know ...I'll have to wait a long time but, that's OK...I'll wait!
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tigger 9:45AM (4/25/2008)
Nancy Pelosi is an idiot. It is because of idiots like Pelosi that we are where we are with gas prices and energy availability in general. Nancy Pelosi is wealthy so she does not give a rip what gas costs, but she does give a rip about being re-elected. Because of the potheads and weirdos in California she will be re-elected because she is one of them.
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motorman 10:29AM (4/25/2008)
nothing in her letter says how she would lower gasoline prices and that was the question. i hope the libs win the presidential election because they will have to deal with all these problems they have created by their no drilling for oil and natural gas to keep the greens on their side in elections. when gasoline gets to $7-$9 a gallon the libs will be running for their lives as it will not be safe for them to be seen in public.
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Terry Hannon 3:09PM (4/25/2008)
I also think the tax cuts/subsidies should be eliminated for big oil as well. I have a feeling that they will drive prices up, which will only cause the move to alternative fueled/EV cars and trucks to happed more rapidly.
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MikeW 10:33PM (4/26/2008)
I say add Pelosi's name to the list of those to be impeached.
Stupid old broad, impeachment isn't off the table, it is the table!
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leroy 2:59AM (4/27/2008)
The fact is this: if we would have implemented a 50 cent gasoline tax at the beginning of the Iraq war when a gallon of gas was $1.23, we would be paying far less per gallon than we are now.
In addition, those tax dollars would already have us more than 5 years down the road to real implementation of alternative fuels. Instead we have this: hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars going to Middle Eastern countries (that are sympathetic to terrorists) instead of those dollars staying in the USA.
Heckuva job Georgie!
Actually, Mission Accomplished: George and his fat-cat oil friends will be richer than God when all of this ends. If it ever does.
Vote Smart people.
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