Lloyd Bentsen: “like all Americans I am concerned about the recent rise in gas prices and the effect that it has on consumers and on our…”

“like all Americans I am concerned about the recent rise in gas prices and the effect that it has on consumers and on our industries in this country. I do not know exactly what the answer is, I am not sure that anybody does, but I think it does merit study by this Congress and by the administration. But I am also concerned, Mr. Speaker, by the hypocrisy that I see Members of this House, of the other body, of the de facto Presidential nominee of the other party, the Republican Party, that after 16 months of being in control they have decided now they want to repeal the gas tax. Where were they last January? Where were they with their tax bill? Now they have had this midnight conversion, much like the Earth Day conversion on the environment, and all of a sudden they want to repeal the gas tax. I have been talking about this for awhile. Why did we not take it up before? It is politics, it is politics plain and simple, and unfortunately as the House continues to engage in this activity, the American people suffer.”