12th District Congressman Pat Tiberi (R)

Tiberi Talks About the Current Energy Prices

A local congressman says he is concerned about the rising cost of fuel. 

“Between the rising cost to fill up the gas tank and to heat and cool homes, energy prices are eating away at family budgets. Soaring prices at the pump are compounding transportation costs and are causing food prices to increase, hitting us at every turn.”

12th District Congressman Pat Tiberi (R) says gas has gone up a $1.30 since Nancy Pelosi became speaker of the House in January of 2007. 

“ She's forced a vote to increase taxes on energy, not once, not twice, but four times. Meanwhile, she knew Senate Democratic leadership had said they wouldn't consider the bill each time she brought it to the Floor for a vote. That means it had no chance of becoming law.”

Tiberi says we need an energy production plan. 

“It should be comprehensive. It should be a plan that considers a wide range of views. Senators and representatives from both parties need to come together to craft a production plan. While we're focused on a long-term solution to our nation's energy needs, we should examine what we can do to reduce energy costs in the near term.”

Tiberi also says the higher prices are a result of the lack of exploration for energy
here at home.

“When allies like Canada are extracting oil off its coasts, we're prohibited from doing the same. Speaker Pelosi won't permit votes on exploration within our borders, even though experts believe there may be significant energy reserves in Alaska and in the Dakotas. Speaker Pelosi won't allow us to expand nuclear energy production, while our allies in Europe have found it to be clean and safe.”

Tiberi adds that we also need to encourage more alternative energies like increased solar power and more investment in clean coal technology but each measure alone won't bring relief.