Kirk Watson: “for 7 years now, Washington Republicans have allowed Big Oil to run our Nation's energy policy. From the very first days…”

“for 7 years now, Washington Republicans have allowed Big Oil to run our Nation's energy policy. From the very first days of this administration, Vice President Cheney was meeting in secret with energy executives to develop its energy proposal. Today we see the results of that secret policy that was approved by a rubber-stamp Republican Congress. When President Bush took office, the average price of gas was $1.47. Today, it has more than doubled to an average hovering around $4. Since taking control of Congress last year, Democrats have rejected the failed Republican policies that are responsible for these record high prices. We are working to lower prices by cracking down on price gouging, holding OPEC accountable for price fixing, repealing subsidies for profit-rich oil companies, and instead investing in renewable energy. Each of these efforts have received some partisan support, but the Republican leadership of this House and the President continue to oppose our efforts.”