[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6130]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 GOP IGNORED ENERGY PROBLEM FOR 5 YEARS

  (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, it is hard to believe that when President 
Bush took office in 2001, the average price of gasoline was $1.65. 
Since that time, on both the President and Congressional Republicans' 
watch, gas prices have doubled, leaving everyday families squeezed to 
afford other necessities.
  Washington Republicans have had 5 years to develop a comprehensive 
energy proposal that would not only free America from reliance on 
Middle East oil, but would also crack down on price gouging and market 
manipulation. Instead, almost immediately after taking office, the Vice 
President began holding secret meetings with oil and gas company 
executives to create a special-interest energy plan. The secret Bush 
administration energy plan was finally rubber-stamped by the Republican 
Congress last year.
  Under this energy plan, oil companies got at least $20 billion in 
both tax breaks and royalty-free drilling rights, while hardworking 
Americans got stuck with the bill.
  It is no wonder that their initials are G-O-P: Gas, Oil and 
Petroleum. Democrats refuse to do the dirty work of the special 
interests and are demanding that this Congress crack down on price 
gouging. It is time House Republicans join us in providing some real 
relief to the American consumer.

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