However, since taking office, the Bush Administration has absolved OPEC from any responsibility, even though the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Agency officials stated this year before Congress that OPEC is “largely responsible for the sharp increases in oil prices.”   In fact, on May 8th of this year, Vice President Cheney said, “[w]e can’t blame the problem on OPEC in terms of current gasoline prices.”

“President Bush still refuses to take any action to bring immediate relief to consumers at the gas pump.  Chicagoans are paying more than $2 dollars a gallon for regular and the President still believes that drilling in Alaska is going to make a difference in Illinois,” Schakowsky said.

She added, “President Bush can do two things right now that will bring relief to families, small businesses, and farmers.  First, he can follow through on his campaign promise and use some of that Texas hard nose politics to call on OPEC “to open your spigots.” Second, he can pick up the telephone and talk to his buddies in the oil and gas business and tell them to give consumers a break.  It’s time for a major jawboning session.”  

“Consumers paved the way for the top five oil companies to make record profits over the past year – more than $50 billion and many had to cancel their Memorial Day trips because they were being gouged at the pump.  I call on President Bush to act today so families throughout the country won’t have to cancel Fourth of July family vacations,” Schakowsky concluded.