It’s not surprising that high gasoline prices have become an issue in the 2006 US congressional elections, particularly in the House.
Democrats, as expected, generally say that the administration of President George W. Bush and congressional Republicans aren’t doing enough. Republicans respond that the Democrats want to go too far. At the same time, they’re trying to convince voters that the GOP majority is working to solve the problem.
It’s also not surprising that the gasoline price issue has grown so partisan. Democrats clearly see it as one of several openings in their effort to regain control of at least one lawmaking body in Congress. Very few are willing to compromise with anyone in the GOP, which then paints the congressional minority as obstructionists. Some interesting undercurrents are flowing beneath the stalemate that has started to form on the surface, however.
Northeastern moderates
One is on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where chairman Joe Barton (R-Tex.) has brought moderate Northeast Republicans farther into the energy lawmaking process. The group demonstrated that it matters early last November when it stopped the budget bill until House leaders removed a provision authorizing leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
It may do so again. ANWR leasing goes through the House Resources Committee, where chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Calif.) most recently has portrayed it as the perfect opportunity to tax Big Oil. Environmentalists aren’t likely to embrace the idea, however. Meanwhile, Barton immediately supported the bill by Rep. Charles F. Bass (R-NH) to place the permitting process for new oil and biofuel refineries under a federal coordinator. When it didn’t pass the full House on its first try, Barton immediately promised to bring it back within a week. The bill’s prospects if it reaches the Senate aren’t certain. But its progress in the House came from Barton’s willingness to work with Bass, who led the northeastern Republican moderates’ fight against the ANWR provision last fall.
Credit given
Barton also made certain that another Northeast moderate, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), got some credit when the House passed the anti-price gouging bill sponsored by Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM). Action to reduce the number of “boutique” fuels also appeared possible as the Energy and Commerce Committee held two hearings on gasoline prices, supplies and formulations last week.
The atmosphere quickly grew partisan when the committee held its May 4 hearing on high crude oil prices. One witness still made an interesting point much later that morning. “I realize that members of Congress have to deal with their constituents’ concerns. Standing back one step, however, I can see several areas of consensus in the debate here, particularly in considering new definitions of a barrel of oil,” said Cambridge Energy Research Associates Chairman Daniel Yergin.
It’s not certain how many committee members heard his message. Most had already left the room.
