[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 74 (Wednesday, June 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WAKE UP, WHITE HOUSE, AMERICANS ARE BEING GOUGED AT THE GAS PUMPS

  (Mr. CHABOT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I realize that Secretary Richardson has his 
hands full trying to find our nuclear secrets from Los Alamos that were 
apparently lost when they were moved to protect them from the out-of-
control fire that was actually started by our own government.
  Nevertheless, the Secretary and other high-ranking administration 
officials need to acknowledge and respond to what has become a critical 
problem throughout the country. Working families in Cincinnati, my 
district and elsewhere, are facing skyrocketing prices at the gas pump, 
and they need relief now.
  Earlier this year, Secretary Richardson responded to rising gasoline 
prices by saying, we were caught napping. We got complacent. Earlier 
this week, White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said, but we are in 
the busy season where prices generally go up a bit. Well, they are 
closing in on $2 a gallon in Cincinnati. That is not a bit; that is a 
lot.
  President Clinton has substantial executive powers that can be used 
to send a strong message to the price-fixing OPEC cartel. He has chosen 
not to use them. It is time we got serious about this and let us do 
something about the gas prices in this country.

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