| WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today joined Democratic
Leader Dick Gephardt to demand relief for consumers being gouged by big
oil. At a news conference, Democrats also released a report exposing
the Bush Administration and Republicans close ties to the energy companies
that are responsible for charging consumers high-energy prices.
“The
Bush Administration has said that there is nothing that can be done to
help consumers in the short-term, that the only strategy is long-term.
We know that isn’t so. The President should act now to stop price gouging
– First, by jawboning his friends in the oil and gas industry and, if that
doesn't work, sending legislation to Congress to get relief now,” Schakowsky
said.
Schakowsky
added, “If the President is willing to reach out to labor leaders, certainly
he can bring in his and Vice President Cheney’s big oil friends to demand
some relief. According to Vice President Cheney ‘There’s not much
we can do in the short term.’ What he really meant to say was,
‘There’s not much we WANT to do in the short term.’
She
concluded, “We know that big oil has played a role in the price spikes
by manipulating supply in order to maximize profits. Democrats will
not stand for idly by while consumers continue to get gouged. We
have offered a short and long-term plan for sensible energy policy and
also know that consumers need relief now. So far, the Bush Administration
has only proposed relief for big oil.” |
