The Hill News

Gasoline prices are rising extremely fast, and everyone is feeling the pain at the pump. Today, we’re suffering because for too long we haven’t had a national energy policy. While there’s no quick fix, we must lift harmful regulations contributing to the rise in cost and allow more domestic gas and oil production. This will move us towards energy independence and ensure these prices are not a permanent fixture.
 
Gasoline prices peaking at $5 per gallon in some areas of our country is certainly cause for concern. According to a recent poll in the Washington Post, 70 percent of Americans say high gas prices are causing ìseriousî financial hardships in their everyday lives. High gasoline prices in 2008 contributed to our nation’s deep recession, and our nation still hasn’t fully recovered economically.
 
In 2008, with fuel prices above $4 per gallon, then-candidate Obama promised to improve our nation’s ability to produce energy that wo! uld ease the price at the pump. To date, the only policies President Obama has implemented are moratoriums on drilling in the Gulf, and increased regulations on carbon emissions through cap-and-trade and on natural gas production. All of his energy policies have a common theme â€" they raise, rather than lower, the cost of energy and further burden small businesses and families.
 

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