[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 5990-5991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           THE PELOSI PREMIUM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Israel). The Chair recognizes the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to read to you, Mr. 
Speaker, a memo from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee 
that was sent out in 2006. This was sent out to the Democratic 
candidates, and it was obtained by the Chicago Tribune.
  ``Demonstrate your dedication for fighting for middle-class families 
by clearly explaining how you will work to keep down the price of gas 
if elected to Congress. Hold an event at a gas station or other logical 
locations where you will call for real commitment to bringing down gas 
prices and pledge that, as a Member of Congress, you will fight for 
families in your district, not the oil and gas executives for which 
this Republican Congress has fought so hard.''
  Now those are some pretty interesting comments coming from the DCCC. 
On May 10, 2006, Baron Hill said this: ``In Congress, I will support 
measures that will strengthen our economy and lower gas prices instead 
of rewarding big oil companies and special interest lobbies.''
  Mr. Speaker, once Mr. Hill got elected to Congress and voted to raise 
taxes on the American energy producers, he was somehow shocked when 
higher taxes resulted in higher gas prices.
  March 12, 2007, in a press release Mr. Hill said, ``Gasoline prices 
have increased significantly over the past few weeks, with little 
explanation for higher prices.'' The explanation for higher prices is 
because of higher taxes.
  Mr. Joe Donnelly in a July 3, 2006, interview: ``I will be an 
independent voice who will represent the people of the second district. 
Not the wealthy oil and pharmaceutical companies that have bought our 
Congress and are running our country. We need leaders who will stand up 
for good jobs, a better prescription drug plan for our seniors, and a 
real energy plan that will work to drive down skyrocketing gas 
prices.''
  Mr. Donnelly, I'm sure your constituents and the people of this 
country are waiting for that energy to go forth in some results.
  April 26, 2006, press release by Mr. Ed Markey: ``Congress once again 
has an opportunity to help the American people through this financial 
pinch.'' Keep in mind, the Republicans were in charge and the Democrats 
were trying to win votes, Mr. Speaker.
  ``But by ignoring legislation like the Windfall Profits and Consumer 
Assistance Act, Congress has shown, once

[[Page 5991]]

again, that it would rather put the needs of the special interests 
ahead of the needs of the American people. There is a cost to this kind 
of corruption in Washington, and it's at $75 a barrel and climbing.''
  Mr. Markey, the price today is $113 a barrel, and you have not 
reintroduced your Windfall Profits and Consumer Assistance Act to 
Congress.
  But what have we done? I tell you what we have done. The chairman of 
Energy and Commerce has got a solution: raise gasoline tax by 50 cents 
a gallon. I don't think that's what the American people had in mind.
  July 26, 2006, in a town hall meeting, Jim Clyburn, who is now the 
majority whip, says this: ``Thomas from Orangeburg asks: What are you 
doing about gas prices? They're ridiculously high.'' Mr. Clyburn 
answered, ``House Democrats have a plan to help curb rising gas prices. 
We have outlined our plan in a proposal called Energizing America. I 
join my fellow Democrats in believing that drilling for more oil is not 
a long-term solution to our Nation's energy crisis.''
  What is it? Buying bicycles? The Pelosi plan? Thirty bicycles for 
$30,000? Raising taxes? Fifty cents a gallon by the chairman of Energy 
and Commerce proposal? Five cents a gallon by the chairman of 
Transportation? A dollar a barrel of oil from the chairman of 
Transportation? Those are some great ideas.
  April 27, 2006, when gas was $2.91 a gallon, and I will remind you 
that it's $3.44 today, a letter to Speaker Hastert signed by 88 
Democratic Members of Congress, they said this: ``Just this week, the 
price for oil increased to over $70 a barrel.'' Don't we yearn for 
those days of $70 a barrel when it's $113 today?
  We believe Congress has an obligation to determine the underlying 
causes behind the skyrocketing prices. Congress has an obligation to 
take action on behalf of the consumer. Where is the action?
  All bark, no bite.

                          ____________________