Contact: Anne Lupardus, Office of the Governor, 608-261-2162
Letter to President Comes as Oil Companies Again Report Record Profits
Governor Doyle joined fifteen other governors in sending a letter today to President Bush expressing concern about high gasoline prices and calling on the president to take swift action to provide consumer relief and make America energy independent.
“President Bush’s failed energy policy has driven up gas prices to the highest levels ever,” Governor Doyle said. “The record high price of gas is taking a serious toll on the national economy and hurting Wisconsin citizens’ pocketbooks. Now is the time for the President to act, and bring relief to Wisconsin – and the nation’s – consumers.”
The governors’ letter to President Bush comes just as Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips are expected to report combined first-quarter profits in excess of $16 billion, up nearly 20 percent from last year.
The governors’ letter specifically calls on the president to:
* Take additional steps to restrain soaring corporate oil profits that harm consumers but do nothing to invest in alternative energy sources or oil capacity;
* Rollback or divert to alternative energy investments more of the additional $10 billion in oil and gas subsidies that exist under current law. Tax dollars should support the public interest, not the special interests; and
* Address federal laws, merger policies and enforcement deficiencies that continue to allow companies to manipulate oil supplies and merge without any regard to the public interest.
“Six years ago, running for President, George Bush criticized President Clinton for not doing enough to lower gas prices when Wisconsin’s gas prices were $1.34 a gallon,” Governor Doyle said. “He said he would use his contacts in the oil industry and with Saudi Arabia to lower the price of crude oil. Now, gas prices are at an all time high and oil companies are expected to report record profits once again. Last fall, I joined with six other Governors in urging President Bush to direct a prompt and thorough inquiry into rising gas prices. We have yet to receive a response – just like Wisconsin consumers have yet to see any action from Washington.”
Governor Doyle added, “Wisconsin continues to be a leader in energy efficiency and renewable fuels like ethanol. We have put into place a balanced, far-reaching, and forward-looking energy policy. Unless Washington does the same, Wisconsin families will continue to be squeezed.”
The letter to President Bush is available at: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=6777.
