Blunt: American People Deserve Action to Stop the Negative Effects of Today's Record...

Blunt: American People Deserve Action to Stop the Negative Effects of Today's
Record Oil Price Increase

WASHINGTON, June 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- House Republican Whip Roy Blunt
(Mo.) today released the following statement after the price of crude oil
increased $11 today (http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5010997), the largest ever
single-day price increase on record, and closed at a record high of more than
$138 a barrel:

"As Americans look to Congress for help in trying to deal with outrageous
gasoline prices, today's record price for crude oil ensures that no such help
is on the way.

"Unfortunately for these Americans, the Democrats who promised a common-sense
plan to rein in gas prices in 2006 have been working diligently ever since to
ensure America's homegrown energy resources remain under lock-and-key. The
result has been the advancement of a policy agenda that has helped grow - not
turn back - the record high prices we see today.

"When it comes to energy, the American people expect and deserve more from
their Congress than they've gotten. That's why Republicans stepped up to offer
a plan that will bring relief to American families and help strengthen our
economy. Instead of wasting valuable time debating legislation that would
raise the price of gas, like the Democrats continue to do, we want action on
proven solutions that will create jobs and an energy independent America."

NOTE: Gas cost an average of $2.33 a gallon when Democrats took control of
Congress last year after promising a "common sense" plan to lower gas prices.
Since then, fuel costs have skyrocketed while the majority has offered
policies that would make the situation even worse. The U.S. Senate just
defeated a Democratic bill that would increase gas prices by 53 cents a gallon
and a plan introduced by Speaker Pelosi's hand-picked Global Warming Committee
would raise gas prices even more.

SOURCE House Republican Whip Roy Blunt

Nick Simpson, Antonia Ferrier, or Chris Tucker, +1-202-226-7022, all of the
Office of House Republican Whip Roy Blunt