gas prices

After tussling over the energy issue all summer in the campaign for Ohio's 16, state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Jackson Twp.) unveiled his full energy plan at Stark State College Tuesday morning.

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) is on the air in Northwest Washington's 2nd Congressional District with his second radio advertisement of the campaign. The new ad is a 60-second spot on high fuel prices and Larsen's votes in congress to reduce prices by stopping price gouging by oil companies.

Larsen's first ad focused on his work toward expanding veterans health care services in the 2nd District. His opponent, Arlington Republican Rick Bart, has yet to go on the air and after a promising start has run into money woes, even ending the second quarter in the red before raising enough in July to pay off hid debts.

See the full text of the radio ad after the jump.

As election season heats up, candidates are moving into full pander mode. Thus far gas prices top the list of issues that are causing politicians of all stripes to abandon prior positions, disregard basic economic theory, and promise voters the impossible. This is not surprising given poll data indicating that voters' worries about the costs of filling up their tanks is a top concern as we move towards November.

Nonetheless, for rational-minded observers who might prefer that candidates not insult the intelligence of voters and instead present policy proposals that might actually do something to change the nation's energy policy (as opposed to offering cheap rhetoric with a shelf life lasting until, oh I don't know, right around Nov. 4), I find the whole situation nauseating. So in the spirit of the Olympics (which incidentally are occurring in China; the county whose increased demand for oil is a big factor for rising gas prices in the U.S.), I thought it would be appropriate to award medals to Nevada's best gas price panderers.

LOUISVILLE -- While gas prices continue to dominate campaign narratives nationwide, U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Louisville) doubts Republican proposals will sway voters.

"I understand why the Republicans think they have that issue, but the vast majority of the American people blame George Bush and the oil companies for high gas prices," Yarmuth told PolitickerKY.com at a voter registration drive on Wednesday. "So, I think that is an issue that ultimately will not help them."

Yarmuth also indicated he did not think most voters would make their decision on Nov. 4 based on the gas price issue.

"Certainly that is a very significant immediate issue for a lot of people, and I understand that, but it is part of a much broader issue of economic security. That involves food prices, increased tuition, if you have a kid in school and the increased cost of health care," said Yarmuth. "On the broader agenda -- who the American people trust to manage the economy over the next four years -- a huge majority favor Democrats."

U.S. Reps. John Boehner (R-West Chester), Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) and Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) discussed last week their recent trip to Alaska's North Slope, where energy companies are developing oil and gas, as well as the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado, as part of what Boehner's calling the American Energy Tour.

The three Ohio congressmen traveled with eight freshmen colleagues.

Boehner said that the two places hold the key to America's energy future.

"At the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, we saw the scientists and engineers that are working on really perfecting the next generation of alternative fuels," he said. "And I think we do need to increase our investment in alternative fuels - such as wind, solar, coal-to-liquid technology, biomass - but clearly it's going to be some time before these sources can meet the majority of our energy needs."

Boehner said that in the meantime, America needs to produce its own gas and stop depending on foreign sources of energy.

"And it's clear from what we saw up in Alaska, that wildlife and environmentally safe energy production can successfully co-exist," he said. "And there's no reason in the world of why this wouldn't be possible in the 10-02 area of the North Slope."

Editors note: This is a daily summary of news about the U.S. Senate race between U.S. Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) and former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury).

Today in the U.S. Senate race Shaheen delivered a speech before small businesses owners and Sununu commented on President Bush's decision to repeal an executive order banning offshore drilling.

MANCHESTER- At a Manchester Rotary Club meeting, former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen (D-Madbury) said the two most important issues affecting small businesses is the rising cost of energy prices and health care.

"Small businesses and families are struggling and they feel like Washington isn't paying attention," Shaheen said. "Gas prices are unbearably high, health care costs are increasing and people are legitimately worried about how high heating fuel will get this winter."

The campaign of state Sen. Kirk Schuring (R-Canton) preempted an event held at a Sunoco gas station Tuesday morning by opponent state Sen. John Boccieri (D-New Middletown) with the release of a statement titled, "Gimmicks Aren't Solutions."

Schuring is running against Boccieri to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula in Ohio's 16th Congressional district seat.

Boccieri announced the event last week. He was slated to appear with U.S. Rep. Rahm Emmanuel (D-Ill.) at the Sunoco station to discuss the rising cost of energy and its effect on the economy. Boccieri campaign manager Ian Walton told PolitickerOH.com that Emmanuel's flight was delayed and the congressman was stuck on the tarmac, and was therefore unable to attend the event.

Schuring said in a statement that the event was evidence that Washington is broken, has lost its ability to plan and use common sense to solve problems. He said the Boccieri event was to warn of an energy crisis.

"The people of this district already know we have an energy crisis and what they want are leaders who will work to solve this problem and allow us access to our own natural resources," Schuring said. "I have been listening to what people throughout the district say about the energy crisis we face and soon I will be unveiling my energy platform. It will be results based strategy with short term objectives and long term goals."

Grant Bosse's Congressional Campaign Today Released a Statement Rebuking Democrat Paul Hodes For Backing Controversial Energy Proposal

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Baltimore) called on his colleagues to immediately act to lower gas prices during a speech on the Senate floor today.

"Americans are frustrated about the high cost of energy," Cardin said. "They remember that, when President Bush took office nearly eight years ago, a gallon of regular gas cost less than $1.50; today it's at an all-time high of $4.02 per gallon."

"Rising costs at the pump are having a direct, negative impact on families and particularly small businesses that rely on their cars and delivery trucks for their livelihood," he added. "Many are on the brink of going out of business because they cannot absorb the price hikes. I join with the majority of the American public and say the status quo is not acceptable."