Is Addressing High Gas Prices a Goal for the Obama Admin No

If you were wondering why the Obama administration has spent three years blocking and rejecting efforts to expand energy production as gas prices have skyrocketed, wonder no more: Secretary Chu admitted yesterday that addressing high gas prices isnt a goal for the Obama administration:

• The Energy Department isnt working to lower gasoline prices directly, Secretary Steven Chu said Tuesday… High gasoline prices will make research into such alternatives more urgent, Chu said. (Chu: DOE working to wean U.S. off oil, not lower prices, Politico, 2/28/12)

• Is the overall goal to get our price (down) Nunnelee began.  No. interrupted Chu, The overall goal is to decrease our dependency on oil, to build and strengthen our economy and decrease our dependency on oil.(Chu: Decrease dependency on oil, not gas prices, Washington Examiner, 2/28/12)

This isnt the first time President Obamas energy secretary has admitted his goal isnt to lower gas prices. In fact, in 2008 he told the Wall Street Journal we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe. And last year, Secretary Chu told Fox News Sunday the price of gasoline over the long haul should be expected to go up just because of supply and demand issues as the Obama administration blocked efforts to expand Americas energy supply.

In other words, the next time you head to a gas station and prices have risen again remember: the Obama administration thinks you should be paying even more.

Addressing high gas prices that are hurting families and small businesses might not be a goal for the president, but it is for Republicans. The House has passed a series of jobs bills designed to remove barriers to energy production and stop policies that drive up gas prices for families and small businesses.

Join the more than 6,000 people who have Liked the American Energy Initiative on Facebook, and learn more about the Republican plan for jobs at jobs.GOP.gov.