Something We Can Do About Gas Prices...Now! Have you noticed how gas prices go up and down like a yo-yo, sometimes even throughout the day? This is because high gas prices are caused by more than just supply and demand. Wall Street energy traders and speculators are manipulating the market.Experts tell us that oil speculation and trading has raised the price of oil as much as 25 percent. Even Congressman Sam Graves seems to agree. He claims to "have played an active role in ensuring that traders are not cheating the system."But then, Graves turns right around and admits that his energy approach will not bring short-term relief to consumers. "There isn't much you can do [about high gas prices] in the short term, to be quite honest with you," Graves said to the Kansas City Star on July 14.
We know better. Almost everyone, from economists and the airlines to consumer groups - everyone but the oil companies - agree that we can lower gas prices by cracking down on speculators.But Graves' bills have applied only to natural gas and specifically exempted oil speculators. So first Graves tells us he's helping to lower gas prices. But then he won't support the legislation that actually cracks down on speculators. And finally, he tells us there's nothing we can do about high gas prices. With double talk like this, is it any wonder that Americans are furious with Washington? We all know that oil companies make more profits when gas prices are higher. And speculators drive prices up.
Sam Graves, one of the top recipients of campaign contributions from Exxon and Big Oil, just reported thousands more in contributions from oil companies. And again, he is caving in to the special interest lobbyists for Big Oil who write these checks.The fact is, we can do something to provide relief for consumers in the short-term. We must crack down on energy traders and oil speculators. I call on Congressman Graves to do what I would do in Congress: support the real "Close the Enron Loophole Act," which would prohibit oil speculators from making money off the backs of hardworking consumers by manipulating oil prices. While Graves misleads voters and protects his Big Oil company and speculator buddies, who are making a fortune at the expense of hard working families, Missourians are calling for change.
Kay Barnes is a candidate for U.S. representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District
No comments:
Post a Comment