Kathy Castor: “Middle class families across America are struggling with the rising cost of health care, housing and gas prices brought…”

“Middle class families across America are struggling with the rising cost of health care, housing and gas prices brought on by the White House economic policies of the last 8 years. Unfortunately, Big Oil continues to have a stranglehold over our country's energy policy. The latest proposal from their allies in the White House and other prominent Republicans is to drill for oil just off of our beaches. But oil companies already have access to 68 million acres that they are not actively tapping, and the administration's own Energy Department reports that opening up new areas would have no impact on the price of gas. True leaders are working on long-term solutions to reduce our dependence on oil and gas, promote conservation and new renewable technology. This has been the fundamental failure on energy policy of the Bush administration, and now Americans are paying the price. Do not reward Big Oil's latest attempt to grab even more. Join us in fighting harmful speculation in petroleum markets and our efforts to end the massive, wasteful taxpayer subsidies to big oil companies. Short-term political gimmicks are no substitute for real leadership.”