Wayne Allard: “We all know we are experiencing a time of dramatically increased energy costs. The price of gas sets new highs almost…”

“We all know we are experiencing a time of dramatically increased energy costs. The price of gas sets new highs almost every day, and the price of oil continues to climb. In the face of this, the Democrats in this body think the proper response is to increase taxes and regulations on the energy industry. It reminds me of a saying from the Reagan era: If it moves, tax it; if it keeps moving, regulate it; and if it stops moving, subsidize it. Well, the bill the Democrats are trying to force on the American people would do at least two of those things. Increasing taxes and regulations do nothing to bring down the increase in fixed costs that result from high energy prices. It is not the right solution. Conventional wisdom dictates that in times when fixed costs are high, discretionary spending must decrease. As the last budget showed, we certainly do not follow conventional wisdom in DC. But families all over America have to. In plain and simple language: Spending more on what we need generally means we have less to spend on what we want.”