[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6678]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RISING GAS PRICES ARE NOT THE SOLUTION AMERICANS WANT FROM THE 
                               DEMOCRATS

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, in a press release on April 24, 2006, then 
Leader Pelosi, now Speaker Pelosi said, Democrats have a commonsense 
plan to help bring down the skyrocketing cost of gasoline. In an op-ed 
penned by my friend from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel), he claimed that their 
success is because Democrats realize the anxiety of stagnating wages, 
the cost of health care, education, and even gasoline and vowed to 
address their concerns.
  Well, they addressed their concerns. Gas prices are up. When the 
Democrats took over, gas prices were $2.33. Now they are $3.53. We call 
this the Pelosi Premium. Add the 50 cent gas tax for climate change, 
consumers would be paying $4.03. And when gas prices reach $4 this 
summer, add 50 cents for climate change; we will be paying $4.53 for a 
gallon of gas.
  That's not the type of change that the suburbs in America bargained 
for when they allowed Democrats to get this Chamber.

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