Today House Democrats passed an AMT “patch” that imposes a $13.5 billion tax hike on America’s energy industry, which will lead to even higher gas prices.  Additionally, the Democrat “patch” includes tens of billions in unnecessary taxes.

 

Every day Texans put gas in their cars and drive to work.  For the majority of them, driving is the only way to get the kids to school and to their jobs.  There is anxiety across the country about the rising cost of fuel, but despite this fact, Democrats in Congress think it wiser to once again tax American energy companies-which in return will increase gas prices.  This is misguided policy, and I will continue to push for sound policy that brings relief at the pump.

I praise the bipartisan efforts that enabled a supplemental spending bill to be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that includes funding for disaster relief in the wake of massive flooding in the Midwest.

This legislation funds the Global War on Terror, increased veterans' education benefits,extended unemployment payments, as well as disaster relief -- and importantly does it without a tax increase," Shimkus said. "Many of my constituents and others throughout the region are facing devastating floods. This quick response will help alleviate the damage.

This week, senior House Democrats stunningly called for the United States to nationalize American energy production.  Rather than socialism, I have championed an energy plan to increase American production of energy while providing incentives for greater conservation.

 

These insidious proposals are fundamentally at odds with the principles of freedom and enterprise that have made this the greatest nation in the world. This stunning plan is a frightening premonition of how a Democrat-controlled government would operate.  If House Democrats are willing to nationalize the energy industry, which American industry is next?

 

Now that gas prices have increased to more than $4.00 a gallon, Congressional Democrats are finally realizing that the basic economic principle of supply and demand is real. World demand for oil is growing, while supply has remained fairly level, causing the price to skyrocket. Ironically, in response the majority party in our own Congress is asking other countries to increase supply while opposing such increases at home. But there’s another way: It’s time to let American companies produce American energy for American consumers.

Today as another week in Congress comes to a close and the House Democrat leadership failed to bring an emergency troop funding bill to the Floor for a vote.

House Democrats continue to stand in the way of vital funding for our troops. Their inaction is tantamount to a vote against the wellbeing of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines. Our military leadership has clearly stated that they need funding immediately to support the success of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, pay our military, and operate and maintain our military bases. Yet, Congress under the Democrats' control has yet to pass or even consider a clean funding bill. That is unacceptable.

Today Senate Democrats moved forward legislation regarding physician payment cuts that is certain to fail, while the clock ticks on access to quality health care for our nation’s seniors.

Without urgent action by month’s end, access to quality health care for our seniors will be drastically reduced. Yet, Senate Democrats made it abundantly clear today that ensuring our seniors are covered is at the bottom of their priorities. They know the legislation pushed today will never become law. This cynical ploy serves only to run out the clock on our seniors and inaccurately lay the blame at the feet of Republicans.

The national average of regular unleaded gasoline has reached a once unthinkable four dollars per gallon yet House Democrats refuse to act.

 

The American people need no reminder that gas prices have reached historically painful highs. Yet Democrats in Congress seem oblivious to the damage their inaction is causing.  Unmoved by calls for solutions, their energy policy has been one of dormancy.  Today we have reached four dollars per gallon. How much further must gas prices rise before House Democrat leaders open their eyes to the dire need for action?

 

Talk Radio News Network has the following posting on their web page: "Americans can’t afford democrats’ waiting-game" discussing the lack of meaningful energy policy from the Democratic side.

     Filling up my truck back home this week, I felt the pain at the pump as the price ticked above $90 and kept on going to $93.

     Every Georgia motorist experiences the exact same frustration – or perhaps rage – as they fuel their vehicles to go to work, take the kids to school or pick up groceries.

     When Democrats were in the minority in Congress in 2006, they howled about $2-a-gallon gas prices and campaigned so diligently on the issue you half expected to see Democrat leader Nancy Pelosi pumping your gas for free at the local station.

 

Today Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif), Ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released a statement on the failure of the Democrat majority to pass a clean supplemental spending bill before the Memorial Day recess.

“It is a sad day for this institution, for our troops, and for this country,” commented Rep. Lewis. He blamed the lack of a clean bill on “election year procedural gimmickry.”

He also stated:

As Ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, I gave the following statement on the floor of the House today in opposition to the Democrat war supplemental appropriations package:

 “Many of my colleagues, particularly those who serve with me on the Appropriations Committee, know that I have a great deal of respect for the senior Senator from West Virginia, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Robert Byrd.  While he and I may disagree on issues from time to time, it is fair to say that we both share a deeply held love and respect for this institution.

I continue to call for the Democrat majority to stand by their promises and fight our nation’s rising gas prices.

 

The Democrats have failed as the majority in Congress. They made promise after promise to help the American people and, to no surprise; all of those promises have been broken. On April 24, 2006, Pelosi and the Democrats vowed to address our nation’s high gas costs. When they took control of Congress last year, the national average cost for regular unleaded gas was $2.33 a gallon. Now, 15 months later, the cost has risen to $3.53. That’s a $1.20 per gallon increase. Where will it stop?