Posted on 08/31/2005 6:45:35 PM PDT by kddid
NEW YORK - President Bush should act to prevent oil price gouging in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday.
"I would hope the administration uses the legislative tools at its disposal to make it very clear they're going to prevent any kind of price gouging and profiteering because of this disaster," said Clinton, D-N.Y. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said Wednesday the administration would release oil from federal petroleum reserves to help refiners affected by the hurricane, which has devastated the Gulf Coast. The move is designed to give refineries a temporary supply of crude oil to replace interrupted shipments from tankers or offshore oil platforms affected by the storm.
Clinton said Bush should go further.
"I'd like to see a Federal Trade Commission investigation launched right now," she said. "I'd like to see the administration and the president use the bully pulpit right now. I'd like him to send a very clear message to the oil companies, the distributors and refiners that we're going to do everything we can to help them get back into and remain in business but in return we expect them to fulfill their citizenship responsibilities as well and not take advantage of this situation."
The production and distribution of oil and gas remained severely disrupted by the shutdown of a key oil import terminal off the coast of Louisiana and by the Gulf region's widespread loss of electricity, which is needed to power pipelines and refineries.
The emergency petroleum stockpile - nearly 700 million barrels of oil stored in underground salt caverns along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast - was established to cushion oil markets during energy disruptions.
Clinton spoke at the New York chapter of the American Red Cross, where volunteers were taking calls from people affected by the disaster.
She should call Pataki if gouging is a problem in NY. Tell him to get in touch with Perdue.
Why wait for the Feds?
You're right. I always thought that Billy should have ignored most of her advice. Such as Hillary's advice not to settle with Paula Jones. I hope that this president ignores her as should all intelligent people.
The Prices force people to do what people do best -- be creative, innovative. Price gouging is freedom, free market popular governance at its best. Causes the great, magnificent and most-powerful lever of public participation to act.
Projection.
I listened to some liberal radio callers tonight - they are convinced they can use the courts to order pipelines fixed, oil platforms restored, and refineries repaired.
"Correction: Administration Should Prevent Hillary Clinton from opening her fat mouth."
I just did a google to see if she has said anything about helping the victims of this disaster.
Now she may have, but I didn't see it, and this story is at the top of the list.
Maybe now that she's made this political play over gas prices, she'll get around to acknowleding that a lot of people are dead, injured, suffering, and have lost everything.
And on sales tax as well.At 7%,roughly 3 cents additional tax was collected by the increase in the base(all costs,use taxes)price than the sales tax is calculated on the higher amount.The county of sale gets about half of that back.
At least on thing in the last year it has helped our pitiful lot of supervisors in Washington county come out ahead for a change.
Over budgeting/over taxing helped too.
I would like to see Bush use his power to make her give back $1.9 million to Peter Paul that she never declared in 2000.
A clear indication that she has no idea (or is purposely obfuscating) where in the entire supply chain that price gouging is most likely to occur.
I'd like to see the President send a very clear message to the democrats and other assorted leftist vermin that our energy policy won't be directed by leftist envirowhacko garbage.
It would seem that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton really doesn't understand the separation of powers in government. The executive branch SHOULD NOT have legislative powers.
Newsflash for Senator Hillary Rodham-Rodham! YOU are in the legislative branch. Why don't YOU propose legislation that will help the problem? Once again, the DemLibs want to retain the issue, NOT solve the issue, and maintain the 'blame Bush first' mantra...SO predictable .....
Is it still gouging when supplies are literally drying up? Here in Arkansas, nearly every gasoline terminal is DRY. Pipeline is not pumping, so it will take time just to get stock for the distributors to deliver.
Someone cap that female dog's muzzle and they could probably get enough gas to fire at least a couple of regional electric generators....
I suggest drilling on Long Island.
Has there been a Congressional call to a National Emergency Session? YET? At the moment, Hillary is a bullying nothing- where is the GOP?
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