Posted on 04/25/2008 5:01:36 PM PDT by kindred
John Shadegg, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, believes Congress is mostly to blame for record high fuel prices in the U.S because it has been reducing and restricting access to oil and natural gas supplies.
Representative Shadegg (R-Arizona) says for politically correct reasons, Congress has locked up millions of acres of land in the western U.S., Alaska, and the Outer Continental Shelf, where there is plenty of oil to be explored. He believes Congress could suspend the gasoline tax for summer driving months, as presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain has proposed, and allow more opportunities for local exploration.
According to Shadegg, many investors who were investing in real estate two years ago are now investing in oil, which is also driving costs up. He says his Democratic colleagues who promised to implement a "common sense" plan to reduce gas prices have yet to make good on their pledge.
"They have raised the cost of our access to oil," he states bluntly. "In their pursuit of alternative fuels, they have decided that the way to do that is to increase the tax burden on all of our existing fuels -- oil, gasoline, natural gas, electricity, you name it. And if you increase the cost on the good, the price is going to go up. So it's a combination of factors -- and I think the government is at fault for many of them," Shadegg contends.
The Arizona lawmaker says the U.S. could release a quantity of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and drive the speculators out of the market. "Some of the smart investors are saying that speculation is somewhere between 20 and 40 percent of the current cost of a gallon of gasoline. Well, if it's 40 percent, that's pushing a dollar a gallon. That would make a dramatic difference for you and me and the driving public across this nation," Shadegg points out.
Congressman John Dingell (D-Michigan) recently proposed imposing a 50-cent tax on every gallon of gasoline to try to cut back on Americans' consumption.
World demand doesn’t have a thing to do with it. Right! Manufacturing goods for sale and transportation to market require large amounts of energy. Where are most the items we buy now made?? Wrong ANS: USA Right ANS: China
If you want to impact oil prices stop buying made in China because it takes the same amount of energy to manufacture there as it does here but, transporting the goods across an ocean is a bit more energy consuming compared to transportation to the next state. People, think about where the goods you buy are made and the cost of transporation to the US.
Things have gotten so much worse since the incompetent likes of Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have taken over.
These liberals, along with the milktoast republicans, will destroy the US in short time.
The really smart thing is that Dingell is from Michigan, a state that lives off people buying cars...that use gas.
Ping to #18 dude!
I imagine some truckers are taking changes by letting upkeep slide, too, because they have to use what they have on outrageous fuel prices.
As for it affecting prices of everything, talk about “trickle up”. Actually, it’s more like “gushing up”. Anyone I talk to is very aware how much their budgets have tightened up on all necessities. But I just can’t see anything getting done until the truckers bring it all to a halt.
To my knowledge most of Michigan's automotive profits have migrated to other states and other nations due to the way the Canadian Socialist, Gov Granholm, treats manufacturers and businesses.
Although the tax thing is really in step with Michigan's fiscal policies...
I’ve always wondered how he manages to continue to be elected.
Problem is that it's not the truckers that are the problem - they are the first line to go bankrupt...
It's Congress that needs to halt this...quick.
The OO's that run through leases to the big companies are turning in their leases in record numbers as they are being bankrupted...but if a trucker turns in a lease mid-lease, he is black-balled in the industry and there won't be a job out there for him when things get back on tract. The Independent OO's will be so in debt they'll likely have to sell their rigs to stop the bleed.
We loose too many truckers, prices are going to continue to soar...and goods won't be moving like we're used to...there will be shortages.
This is a domino disaster in the making and no one seems to be aware of it...
As an aside and not having had time to do any due diligence on this matter, mayhaps, one of your more erudite Freepers might have some insight as to exactly WHY, or better HOW, our Guvmint (maybe the United Nations, but not us) can dictate what ANY oil company can do with regards to exploration and recovery of oil, off the coasts of the US BEYOND the 12 mile limit????
I think that Dingell has a valid point. He is showing that he understands the principle that if you tax something you get less of it. Now if he would only understand the other part - if you reduce taxes on something you get more of it.
You're absolutely right. The democrat congress is sitting on it's thumbs because it's an election year. Unhappy voters tend to vote against the incumbent party. As long as they keep the focus on the president, they figure nobody will notice how worthless they are.
Maybe I stated that wrong. I’m not saying truckers are part of the problem. What I’m saying is Congress won’t do anything worth a hill of beans until the truckers simply can’t afford to move anything, which will be followed by the price and supply problem escalating.
Frankly, I’m considering what I should be stocking up on and soon.
Chuck Grassley and every corn state pubbie will stop this!!
Oh, I’m sure he understands “the other part”. The higher the taxes, the more we have to work for a decent net income. The more we have to work, the less free time we have. The less free time we have, the less time we have to hold their sorry a$$es accountable...
Based on your tagline you already know the most important thing to be fully stocked!
Not a bad idea -
I would suggest dry goods, canned goods, and plant veggies - and get to know who your local 'farmer's market' folk are.
You know it!
To paraphrase a certain 'official' from the previous administration:
Stroke of the pen, law of the land.
Kinda cool, huh?
ah-yep. I also have an opportunity to buy half a pig. Some lady at work is planning on butchering two pretty soon.
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