Columbus, Ohio – Governor Ted Strickland joined Democratic governors from 16 states in a letter sent Tuesday to President George W. Bush urging him to help relieve escalating gas prices in the United States.
“We are calling on the president to stand up for consumers and help alleviate the heavy burdens facing Americans at the pump,” Strickland said. “I join my fellow governors in urging the president to act on our concerns and begin working with Congress and pressing oil companies to find a long-term solution to this issue.”
The governors’ letter comes at a time when gas prices in Ohio and across the country are reaching record highs.
In the letter, the 17 governors issue an urgent call for President Bush to work with Congress to relieve gas prices by supporting federal legislation that penalizes gas price gouging and ordering the administration’s agencies to pursue anti-trust and commodities violations.
The governors also urge the president to press oil companies to invest their profits in fixing refinery capacity issues that have become an annual foil for escalating prices.
In addition, the governors spoke to the need for a long term-solution and addressed their work to promote alternative sources of energy, encourage conservation and demand efficiency.
"Here in Ohio I am committed to making Ohio the epicenter of alternative and advanced energy production, innovation and research," Strickland said. "The more energy we produce right here at home, the less dependent we will be on foreign oil and the more likely our energy prices are to remain stable and balanced."
In addition to Strickland, the 16 governors who signed the letter are Govs. Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Jon Corzine (N.J.), Jennifer Granholm (Mich.), Ed Rendell (Penn.), Bill Richardson (N.M.), Mike Beebe (Ark.), Janet Napolitano (Ariz.), Ruth Ann Minner (Del.), Rod Blagojevich (Ill.), Chet Culver (Iowa), Kathleen Blanco (La.), Deval Patrick (Mass.), Ted Kulongoski (Ore.), Phil Bredesen (Tenn.) and Jim Doyle (Wis.).
A copy of the governors’ letter follows:
DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION
1401 K STREET, NW, SUITE 200 WASHINGTON, DC 20005
T 202.772.5600 F 202.772.5602 WWW.DEMOCRATICGOVERNORS.ORG
May 22, 2007
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
When Democratic governors wrote to you about high gasoline prices in April 2004, prices were nearing $2.00 per gallon – a price most consumers would happily pay today. This summer in some parts of the country, prices are expected to double that amount.
Democratic governors have a history of standing up for consumers and are taking action to ease the pain at the pump. We are investigating price gouging, investing in alternative sources of energy, and rolling back oil and gas subsidies. We support corporate profitability – but not on the backs of working families and not at the obscene levels we have seen in recent months.
We urge you to join us in pressing oil companies to invest their profits in fixing refinery capacity issues that have become an annual foil for swiftly escalating prices. Further, we call on you to work with Congress to lower gas prices – support federal legislation defining and penalizing gas price gouging and order your Administration’s agencies to go after any anti-trust or commodities violations.
Democratic governors know that the long-term prescription for high gas prices is to achieve energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. We are consistently and innovatively leading the way by promoting alternative sources of energy, encouraging conservation, and demanding efficiency.
We are encouraged by your comments this month on energy independence, and we invite you to look at our states to see how we are getting results.
Talk is much cheaper than gas prices. Now is the time for action. Together, we can make America more prosperous, more secure, and less vulnerable to the pain at the pump.
Sincerely,
Governor Kathleen Sebelius
Kansas
Chair
Governor Joe Manchin III
West Virginia
Vice Chair & Chair-elect
Governor Jon S. Corzine
New Jersey
Federal Liaison
Governor Jennifer Granholm
Michigan
Policy Chair
Governor Edward G. Rendell
Pennsylvania
Campaign Chair
Governor Bill Richardson
New Mexico
Chair Emeritus
Governor Mike Beebe
Arkansas
Governor Janet Napolitano
Arizona
Governor Ruth Ann Minner
Delaware
Governor Rod Blagojevich
Illinois
Governor Chet Culver
Iowa
Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco
Louisiana
Governor Deval Patrick
Massachusetts
Governor Ted Strickland
Ohio
Governor Ted Kulongoski
Oregon
Governor Phil Bredesen
Tennessee
Governor Jim Doyle
Wisconsin