Thomas Daschle: “I intend to use my leader time this morning and comment, if I may, on gasoline prices. They continue to hit record…”

“I intend to use my leader time this morning and comment, if I may, on gasoline prices. They continue to hit record highs. According to the Department of Energy, the average retail price of a gallon of gasoline in America is more than $1.84, up 23 cents in the last two months, 33 cents in the last year, and 37 cents in the past 36 months. In my State of South Dakota, the average price of gasoline is $1.80 per gallon, with many communities seeing much higher prices than that. Even more troubling, the Department of Energy expects prices to remain high through the summer. This is of particular concern for rural States such as South Dakota, where many people have no choice but to drive long distances daily to get to their jobs, to receive health care, or just to shop for essentials. Americans are increasingly frustrated with skyrocketing gas prices and want to know what the Federal Government is going to do about it. And they want action now. In March, I sent a letter to the President recommending that he take several initiatives that could curb gasoline prices at home. First, I suggested that he use the prestige of his office and his relationships with foreign leaders to press the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries--OPEC--to increase production, thereby relieving some of the pressure on gas prices in the United States in the long term. This is not a radical idea.…”