As they should. It's about time.
(CNSNews.com) - As expected, gasoline prices keep rising, and Republicans are placing the blame squarely on the Democrat-led Congress. Republicans apparently see "pain at the pump" as a key election issue.
And it's an issue the Democrats will greatly feel the pain of this come November.
As of Monday, the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline stood at a record $4.00. The price has zoomed above $4.00 in a number of states.
Thank you Nancy Pelosi. Thank you environmentalists.
"As a result of this dubious milestone, motorists will pay on average $1.67 more per gallon than they were when the 110th Congress began. This represents a 71 percent increase during Nancy Pelosi's speakership," said Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.), chairman of the House Republican Conference.
Ms. Pelosi, what happened to your 2006 pledge to bring down prices at the pump?
Putnam said on the Democrats' watch, "America has become a nation of $4 gasoline. This expensive milestone arrives two years removed from an endless stream of assurances by Democrat leaders that they had their hands on a 'commonsense plan' to lower gas prices," Putnam said Sunday in a news release.
And Putnam is absolutely correct. Welcome to the Democrat definition of "progress." How do you all like it so far? It feels good, doesn't it?
Drill for U.S. oil
Putnam accused Democrat leaders of making "empty promises."
That is correct, isn't that right Ms. Pelosi?
The American people, he added, want "real solutions that will invest in American resources, create American jobs, and lower prices for American consumers." That means tapping U.S. oil reserves.
Indeed, we do want real solutions. And one of the solutions is to start drilling.
House Republican leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) called it "insane" that the Democrat-led Congress is still refusing to allow increased production of American energy.
Insane is an understatement, although Mr. Boehner does manage to get his point across quite nicely nonetheless.
"Today marks another dubious day for this Do-Nothing Democratic Congress. On their watch, gas prices have soared to new heights, and by refusing to schedule a vote on a plan to increase American-made energy to help lower gas prices, congressional Democrats are complicit in this unprecedented surge in fuel costs," Boehner said on Sunday.
Not exactly "Do-Nothing." While the American people feel excruciating pain at the pump, the Democrats voted to privatize the U.S. Senate restaurants. Now that's what I call priorities. There's your Democrat definition of "progress" for you. Nice going, guys!
He called it "inexcusable" that Democrats won't take "meaningful action" to reduce gasoline prices, something that would help the entire economy, he said.
It's beyond inexcusable. It's beyond madness. It's beyond insane. It's almost like the Democrats are refusing to allow drilling for oil on purpose for reasons other than "protecting the environment" because quite frankly, the "protecting the environment" is getting old real fast.
In April 2006, Democrats promised the American people a "commonsense plan" to bring down gas prices. But the plan does not include drilling for U.S. oil reserves. (See earlier story)
Yeah .... Where is it?
For the record, Republican presidential candidate John McCain has said he opposes oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: ''ANWR is one of the pristine places in the world,'' McCain said in South Carolina last December. ''I wouldn't drill in the Grand Canyon either, and I wouldn't drill in the Everglades.''
McCain is insane - how's that? He's just as bad as the Democrats in many areas, and this is definitely one of them.
As Cybercast News Service has reported, huge basins of untapped oil can be found on federal lands throughout the United States, according to the federal government.
Yeah .... and that matters to the Democrats how?
But much of that domestic oil supply cannot -- and may never be -- recovered, because it lies under national parks and national monuments, or it is subject to environmental laws and restrictions that make drilling prohibitive. The report, which was produced at the request of Congress by the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management, said there are 279 million acres under federal management where oil and gas potentially could be extracted. (See earlier story)
So much for progress. So much for our energy independence.
Republicans insist that the solution lies in boosting the U.S. oil supply -- by drilling right here.
And the Republicans are correct.
"House Republicans have put forth a comprehensive plan to help lower gas prices by harnessing new technologies and unlocking America's natural energy resources in an environmentally responsible way," Boehner said.
"Every American has a right to ask: What will it take for the Democrat-controlled Congress to finally take action and help ease the pain of the Pelosi Premium on behalf of struggling families and small businesses? Speaker Pelosi has the power to schedule a vote on our plan to begin breaking America's costly dependence on foreign sources of energy. She should not wait another day to do so."
Indeed, what will it take? $5.00 a gallon gas? Do I hear $7.00 a gallon? Do I hear $10.00 a gallon? Drill people, drill.
Republicans are reminding the American people average gas prices under the Democrat-controlled Congress have risen from $2.33 a gallon on January 4, 2007 -- the first day of the Democratic Majority -- to the current $4.00 a gallon.
And the Republicans are correct. Interestingly enough, we are not reminded of the above facts via the drive by media.
(But Pelosi, on her official Web site, notes that gasoline prices have "more than doubled since President Bush took office.")
Republicans say they are committed to boosting supplies of all forms of energy "right here at home" to reduce America's dependence on foreign sources of oil. They insist oil drilling in the U.S. can be done without damage to the environment.
Once again, the Republicans are correct. Technologies have evolved where drilling is far, far safer, with minimal negative impact to the environment.
Republicans also are promoting "advanced" nuclear power and next-generation coal as well as renewable energy from wind and hydroelectric power.
I have no problems with exploring next generation renewable energy sources, as long as we start drilling to keep up up with today's demands.
They want to roll back burdensome regulations that limit the construction of new oil refineries.
Good idea. Considering the last time a new refinery was built in this country how many years ago?
And they would encourage greater energy efficiency by offering conservation tax incentives to Americans who make their home, car, and business more energy efficient.
The Democrats' plan says nothing about drilling for new sources of oil.
The Democrats never had a plan, and it's high time the American people start raising a lot of serious hell over it.
I don't know about you all, but I am absolutely fed up with the Democrats slapping us in the face.
If they don't listen to us now, then perhaps we should all send a clear, concise message of our disapproval this come November.
Sounds like a plan to me.