Outrage Grows Against Soaring Gas Prices

Americans are sick and tired of watching gas prices skyrocket to unprecedented levels each week as world oil supply is having difficulty keeping up with demand. Congress is making the situation worse by unnecessarily prohibiting the development of domestic resources in our coastal waters and nontraditional energy sources such as oil shale.

FreedomWorks and seven coalition allies launched the protest website www.GasPriceProtest.com to bring new voices to the energy debate and provide Americans with a place to vent their frustration at Congress for blocking the development of domestic sources of energy. The open letter to Congress calls for lower federal gas taxes, expanded domestic energy production, and allowing refineries to expand to create additional supply. Many signers add personal comments explaining the ways in which bad energy policy has squeezed their household budgets.

The GasPriceProtest coalition includes the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, the Club for Growth, Eric Cantor for Congress, the Freedom Project, the National Taxpayers Union, Red State, and the National Republican Congressional Committee. The website’s online petition now boasts over 41,600 signatures.

FreedomWorks President Matt Kibbe commented:

“Americans understand oil prices are the result of supply not meeting demand, and they are appalled that Congress will not allow domestic oil production to expand. The White House recently estimated 18 million barrels of oil lie offshore, 12 billion barrels of oil are untapped in Alaska, and potentially up to 800 billion barrels of oil in the Green River Basin in Colorado are left untouched because of government restrictions. President Bush has lifted his executive ban on offshore drilling, and it is time Congress does the same.”

To sign the petition, visit: www.gaspriceprotest.com