FrontPage

Nation

World

Media

Culture

Technology

Commentary

Gas prices throughout the region continue to soar. And with little relief in sight, American families and consumers are beginning to feel a pinch in their pocketbooks. Area residents are understandably frustrated by the 50 cent increase in prices from only a year ago, wanting to know how this happened and what is being done about it.

Numerous factors have contributed to the skyrocketing prices, but new EPA regulations requiring "reformulated" gasoline are clearly adding to the cost of production. For example, in 1980 the price of a barrel of oil was $31.00 while the price of a gallon of gas was $1.10. Today, the price of a barrel of oil is still $31.00 while the price of a gallon of oil is over $2.00, due in large part to new government relations.

Additionally, because 56 percent of our nation’s oil is imported, the United States is at the mercy of a handful of oil producing countries. The White House has responded by complaining that these countries are not providing us with oil at a cheap enough price.

But that only scratches the surface of the problem. Instead, we need to kick the habit of dependence on foreign oil and develop a coherent national energy policy that will allow the United States to become more self-sufficient. This includes finding alternative energy sources, as well as increasing our domestic oil production.

Sadly, the leadership from the Clinton-Gore Administration has been nearly non-existent. Indeed, Vice President Gore once called for a 50-cent tax increase on gasoline as a means to help save the environment. In his book, "Earth in the Balance," Gore wrote: "Higher taxes on fossil fuels ... is one of the logical first steps in changing our policies in a manner consistent with a more responsible approach to the environment." Today, Gore has reversed course and rejected his environmental position in an attempt to woo voters. Instead he has attempted to recast himself as a champion for the very consumers he advocated assessing a 50 cent tax upon and tried to blame the problem on the oil companies.

The fact is, new government regulations on refining, our nation’s over-dependence on foreign oil, and the country’s lack of a coherent National Energy Policy are the root causes of the problem. Once we acknowledge those basic underlying causes -- and stop pointing fingers -- we can work toward a real solution to the problem that attacks the root cause of the increased costs of gasoline.

Legislation I have co-sponsored will do just that. The Fuel Excise Tax Relief Act will fully repeal all federal fuel taxes until March 31, 2001 -- including the 18.3 cent gasoline tax and the 24.4 cent diesel fuel tax. The legislation also requires an economic study of the feasibility and appropriateness of maintaining the EPA’s reformulated fuel mandate, which the Congressional Research Service estimates adds an additional cost to consumers of 25 to 50 cents per gallon. The measure also includes a directive to the Office of the Comptroller to report on whether the oil and gas industry is passing the cost savings on to consumers.

The time for politicking and finger pointing is over. Congress needs to step in and take immediate action to reduce the cost of fuel for consumers. This is a very real problem for area residents and it deserves the real attention of our nation’s leaders, not just lip-service from elected officials.