John Thune: “there is no bigger issue facing the economy of the United States of America at the current time than the high cost of…”

“there is no bigger issue facing the economy of the United States of America at the current time than the high cost of energy, and it has a ripple effect throughout the entire economy. In my State of South Dakota, we have farmers who are getting ready to go into the fields to plant. Obviously, agriculture is a very energy- intensive industry. In my State of South Dakota, we rely heavily upon the travel industry. People come to our State to see the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore, so we are a very energy-intensive State. We have long distances to cover. So when gas prices come up and shoot through $3 a gallon or near that level in my State, it has a profound impact on the economy of our State and on the pocketbooks of all South Dakotans. It is important that this issue be addressed. We have heard a lot of speechifying on the floor of the Senate today and a lot of news conferences held in front of gasoline pumps across this country, everybody attacking and pointing fingers and playing the blame game as gas prices have steadily crept upward. I will be the first one in this Chamber to say that if, in fact, the oil companies have profiteered at the expense of hard-working consumers in this country, that they should be prosecuted to the full letter of the law. If there is manipulation, collusion, price fixing, or any other form of anticompetitive behavior for which we have laws in this country, then they need to be held accountable under those laws.…”