Senator Cantwell Promotes Energy Policy That Strengthens National Security And Protects Environment, Consumers
Senator Maria Cantwell held a series of energy related events across Washington to discuss Senate Democrats' energy package that will increase our energy independence, strengthen the economy, reduce global warming emissions and protect consumers.
On Tuesday, May 29, Sen. Cantwell talked with local social service providers at CTRAN Transit Center in Vancouver, who may have to cut back services due to high gas prices. Senator Cantwell followed that event by going to Mid City on Wheels at Spokane on Wednesday, where she talked about how high gas prices are pushing families and businesses beyond their budgets, and forcing cutbacks to food bank operations and vital meal services for seniors. Participants at that event included Dick Clark, a Meals on Wheels Volunteer who used to volunteer every day, but has been forced to cut back deliveries to once a week because of high gas prices.
“These gas prices mean every business and family feels the pinch,” said Cantwell, a member of the Senate Energy Committee. “Right here in Seattle, these prices are forcing cutbacks to critical social services for seniors and needy families. We need solid consumer protections and a bigger push for energy independence to get real relief to families, seniors, and businesses.”
Senator Cantwell rounded up her energy events in Washington by talking about the effect of record gas prices on local businesses, families, and social service providers at a Senior Services Meals on Wheels, in Seattle on Thursday, May 31.
Here is a roundup of press clips from these events:
Non-profits struggling under weight of high gas prices. Non-profit groups in the Seattle area say they are being hurt badly by high gas prices, and it is the low-income that will suffer…. Senator Maria Cantwell promises to push for an anti-gouging law. She and others are also looking at the huge profits of gas companies. "There is a bi-partisan effort to target some of those profits and put them into a program similar to the low-income energy assistance program," Sen. Cantwell said. She is pushing a bill, already passed by the House, to give the Federal Trade Commission the power to look at possible manipulation of gas supplies. The bill provides criminal penalties for what she calls "price gouging." (KOMO-TV Seattle, Washington, 05/31/07 )
Feds should crack down on oil price gouging, Cantwell says. The federal government should have the power to investigate and crack down on any Enron-style market manipulation and price gouging by gasoline companies that exploits consumers -- including hard-pressed social service agencies that provide help to the needy, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said Thursday in Seattle. "We're seeing how the high price of fuel is impacting those most vulnerable in our society," Cantwell said at a news conference in a Meals on Wheels warehouse. (Seattle Post – Intelligencer, 05/31/07)
County feels pain of expensive gas. “On Tuesday, against a backdrop of C-Tran buses revving their engines at its Fisher's Landing Transit Center, Washington's junior senator said she is ready to take on petroleum suppliers and distributors. Cantwell, a Democrat, is the lead sponsor of a Senate bill that would give the Federal Trade Commission new authority to investigate gas gouging and make it a federal crime to manipulate the petroleum market to artificially inflate prices.” (The Columbian, 05/30/07 )
High fuel prices may mean cuts in Clark County transit services, officials say. “High gasoline prices will mean cutbacks for a Clark County social service agency that provides rides to the elderly and disabled, and could also lead to reductions in C-Tran bus service, officials told Sen. Maria Cantwell in Vancouver today. Cantwell is touring the state to learn about how gas prices are affecting the economy, and promoting legislation she introduced to increase development of alternative fuels and prevent price manipulation.” (The Oregonian, 05/29/07)
Senator Cantwell and her Democratic colleagues in the Senate will continue to push their plan, which will punish gas price-gougers, make the government a model of energy efficiency, increase our supply of biofuels, and quickly bring clean and affordable renewable fuels to market.