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By Edward Epstein, CQ Staff
Most energy experts, and even lawmakers themselves, agree that there is not a lot Congress can do about the high cost of gasoline.
That has not stopped the two parties from blaming each other for it. With prices already topping $4 a gallon in certain parts of the country, political leaders in both parties are inventing slogans, pointing fingers and even printing up bumper stickers to position themselves for advantage in the war of words over gas prices.
Congressional Republicans are calling this year's surge in retail gas prices the "Pelosi Premium," taunting Speaker Nancy Pelosi , D-Calif., for what they say is her refusal to disclose a plan to cut gas prices, which she talked about during the 2006 campaign that brought Democrats to power in Congress.
They are now even offering "America Can't Afford the Pelosi Premium" bumper stickers.
Democrats scoff, saying people know who's been in power over the past eight years. "The American people recognize that when we have two oil men in the White House, it's not hard to find blame," said Rep. Mike Thompson , D-Calif., whose district along the northern coast of his state traditionally has some of the nation's highest gas prices.
To be sure, the tension is not purely partisan. Some Republicans have joined in calls for President Bush to halt oil deliveries to the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve, on the theory that more oil on the market would reduce price pressures. Sixteen GOP senators, led by Texan Kay Bailey Hutchison , chairwoman of the Republican Policy Committee, have urged a six-month moratorium on the deliveries.
President Bush argues that the amount of oil diverted to the reserve is too small to affect prices.
Sen. Byron L. Dorgan , a North Dakota Democrat, was seeking to offer an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration authorization bill (HR 2881) that would halt all oil deliveries to the reserve until the price of oil falls below $75 a barrel. It is unclear, though, whether Republicans would support it. A Hutchison aide said the Republicans had not yet seen Dorgan's language.
That effort, as well as calls for a "gas tax holiday" this summer, a peak driving period, reflects the political pressure that members of both parties are feeling in an election year. And they're doing their best to deflect the blame.
"I think at the moment it's a pox on both your houses,'' House Republican Conference Chairman Rep. Adam H. Putnam of Florida said in summing up voters' attitudes toward his party and Democrats.
"We're trying to educate them to the fact that when we were in the majority we passed a number of energy bills that would have had an impact on supply, and the Democrats have refused to change the supply equation even though we're seeing the rise of other world powers that are picking up the slack that used to exist in the world energy markets," he added.
Democrats counter by pointing out that the House has passed several energy bills in this Congress. Most have been blocked in the Senate by Republicans, they add. These include "NOPEC'' anti-cartel legislation and a bill to prosecute price gouging. Other ideas have become law, including new alternative energy incentives.
Republicans say they support conservation and development of alternative fuels, but remain steadfast in supporting increased domestic oil and gas production. Joined by Bush, they accuse Democrats of blocking such ideas as Bush's proposal to open a slice of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to petroleum exploration.
"With gasoline prices skyrocketing, our dependence on foreign oil increasing, and the American people's anxiety growing, isn't it time to increase the supply of American-made energy to help lower prices here at home?" House Minority Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio asked after Bush reiterated his proposal on Tuesday.
"It is puzzling that Democrats continue to demand more energy supply from OPEC but refuse to take responsible steps to increase
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