GOP Focuses on Gas Prices

Connecting high gas prices to the broader economic picture will put Democrats at a disadvantage heading into the election, Republicans maintain.

April 17, 2012

WASHINGTON - Republicans are making high gasoline prices a signature issue for the November elections, the Washington Post reports.

Just back from a two-week break yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) intends to focus on several bills addressing domestic energy exploration, as the issue has become problematic for President Obama and Democrats.

Countering the Republican strategy will be a move by Democrats to campaign on a message of economic fairness, framing oil drilling and natural gas exploration as ventures profitable to multibillion-dollar energy companies. In response, Republicans have maintained that high gas prices are more relevant with voters during tough economic times.

This week, the House GOP will begin arguing for a temporary highway funding bill that includes approval of the Keystone energy pipeline, a move the Post predicts will set up a "negotiation showdown with the Senate." The committee is also moving bills to freeze regulations of refineries and prohibit the Obama administration from releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to keep costs down, actions that Republicans maintain are being implemented for political expediency.

"Gas prices have doubled on President Obama??s watch, and the American people are asking why he and Senate Democrats are blocking more American energy production," Boehner said. "Whether the president joins us or not, we will continue to fight for common-sense solutions that lower gas prices and create new jobs."

The average price of a gallon of gasoline rose 70 cents from late December to mid-April, a jump that Republicans believe will allow them to go on the offensive against Obama. Democratic strategists said gas prices have remained steady recently and may be poised to drop, deflating the Republican argument.

But GOP pollster David Winston said as long as Republicans can connect high gas prices to the broader economic picture, it will give them an edge over Democrats.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement