As gasoline prices continue to hover at record levels, Congress is starting to debate plans aimed at easing the pressure on drivers’ wallets.
Lawmakers’ focus should be on crafting policies that prevent future spikes in the price of gas. The debate, however, may be derailed by Republicans, who have revived ideas that have failed in the past, such as allowing gas companies to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other areas where oil exploration is off limits. The GOP is also pushing another nonstarter, promoting coal-to-gas as an alternative to oil.
The current high cost of gasoline is not a good reason to support bad proposals. The problems with the Republicans’ plans are the same as they were when they were originally defeated. Drilling in environmentally sensitive areas for minimal return is still wrong and turning coal into gas with the technology that exists is inane. The coal plan would create twice as much carbon dioxide as current methods of refining oil. It is also incredibly expensive and uses an immense amount of water.
Democrats have long championed renewable energy and cleaner fuels, but they have made little progress because they have been opposed by the Bush administration, which is filled top to bottom with oil industry cheerleaders.
To start the debate, Democrats are discussing a temporary freeze on purchases for the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve to provide more oil for the open market. It is hoped that would nudge prices down.
In addition, Democrats point to potential manipulation in the oil market as a reason for high gas prices and have called for tighter regulation.
Those are basic, common-sense proposals, but because of the Bush administration’s obstructionism, it may be another year before Congress can pursue plans to truly address the problem and lessen the nation’s dependence on oil.
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