Ed Markey: “Gas prices are shooting up at the pump. Meanwhile, the big oil companies have just announced record profits. Gasoline…”

“Gas prices are shooting up at the pump. Meanwhile, the big oil companies have just announced record profits. Gasoline inventories dwindle. Meanwhile, three major refineries announced routine shutdowns on the very same day, last Friday. Pump prices soared 30 cents on oil company speculation. Meanwhile, their Republican defenders in Congress blame a 4-cent tax. The President initiates an investigation and releases reserves. Meanwhile, the Republican Congress sits on its hands. Where are the hearings? People want answers. Why are the oil companies doing this? But all we get is a Republican silence of the lambs. Mr. Speaker, consumers are in need, and all we get is a Republican fig leaf for the naked greed of the oil companies. Let us face it. The gas tax is a dry hole. If we want to strike oil, let us pass a windfall profits tax on the money that the oil companies are taking out of the pockets of consumers. They are tipping consumers upside-down and shaking money out of the pockets of these consumers. Let us have Republican hearings on this oil company scam on the American people.”