This Week: Republicans Continue Coordinated Attack Over Rising Gas Prices

With gas prices rising for the 27th straight day and state agencies already facing cutbacks, Roll Call reports that congressional Republicans are likely to continue their coordinated attack of the Obama administration over rising gas prices.  

The paper notes that Natural Resources Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) talked about the issue in the weekly Republican address, while Senate Republicans this past week continued to push for votes on the Keystone XL oil pipeline and other energy-related amendments…  Appearing on NBCs Meet the Press yesterday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) also kept up the charge, saying, we need a definitive statement by this president that we will have a national energy policy because it is critical to a growing economy that we do that.  Cantor’s comments are in line with a wider GOP attempt to position Obama as the cause of those high prices, according to National Journal. 

Looking ahead, in todays POLITICO, House Small Business Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) writes that one of the biggest threats now to our recovery is gas prices and shares anecdotes from small business owners struggling with the pain at the pump.  He goes on to highlight a subcommittee hearing this Thursday on how government regulations and leasing policies are limiting small energy producers and contributing to our overall rising energy costs.  Visit the Small Business Committees website to learn more. 

The House Energy & Commerce Committee will also continue examining rising gas prices, according to The Hill:

President Obama and Republicans in Congress will continue to spar this week over soaring gas prices  Energy Secretary Steven Chu will face off with House Republicans on Thursday during a hearing of an Energy and Commerce Committee panel.  The hearing is slated to focus on President Obamas fiscal 2013 budget request.  But expect GOP lawmakers to continue hammering Chu over administration policies that they allege are fueling the price increase.  Separately, an Energy and Commerce Committee panel will examine rising gas prices at a hearing Wednesday.

Additionally, the full House will take up common-sense legislation to help create jobs and expand production of renewable American energy as Republicans continue to act on an all-of-the-above energy policy.  Sponsored byRep. Scott Tipton (R-CO), H.R. 2842, The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act reins in red tape and cuts costs for the installation of hydropower development projects.  This legislation is an important piece of the all-of-the-above energy strategy that our country needs in order to strengthen reliable domestic energy production, generate economic growth, and get Americans working, Rep. Tipton said.  The bill was approved by the Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support.   

Visit jobs.GOP.gov to learn more about Republicans all-of-the-above energy policy.  Stay tuned all week for more on Republicans coordinated offensive to hold President Obama and Washington Democrats accountable for higher gas prices.