Governors Call on President, Congress to Work to Lower U.S. Gas Prices

Oregon currently has the sixth highest average gas prices in the nation, according to the AAA.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski on Tuesday, joined 17 fellow Democratic governors in calling on President Bush to work with Congress to lower record gas prices.

Oregon currently has the sixth highest average gas prices in the nation, according to the AAA. “Democratic governors have a history of standing up for consumers and are taking action to ease the pain at the pump,” the Governor wrote the president. “We are investigating price gouging, investing in alternative sources of energy, and rolling back oil and gas subsidies.” The governors urged the president to endorse federal legislation defining and penalizing gas price gouging and ordering the Administration’s agencies to pursue anti-trust or commodity violations against companies engaged in gouging.

Additionally, they called on the President to join their efforts to press oil companies to invest their substantial profits in resolving refinery capacity issues that have become an annual foil for escalating prices. “We support corporate profitability – but not on the backs of working families and not at the obscene levels we have seen in recent months,” the governors wrote. “Now is the time for action. Together, we can make America more prosperous, more secure, and less vulnerable to the pain at the pump.” In Oregon, Governor Kulongoski continues to actively work on long-term solutions to skyrocketing gas prices by developing alternatives to foreign oil and encouraging conservation and efficiency.

His biofuels package (HB 2210) remains on track to pass this legislative session, creating strong incentives for investment in development and production of alternative fuels and establishing a renewable fuel standard for the state.

And under the Governor’s sustainability initiative, approximately a third of the state’s sedan fleet has been converted to hybrid or flex fuel vehicles that run on E-85 ethanol or compressed natural gas. In addition, Governor Kulongoski looks forward to signing Senate Bill 118, sponsored by Attorney General Hardy Myers, granting the Governor authority to crack down on price gouging during periods of abnormal market disruption. The seventeen who signed the letter are Governors.

Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.), Joe Manchin (W.V.),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 Strickland (Ohio), Ted Kulongoski (Ore.), Phil Bredesen (Tenn.), and Jim Doyle (Wis.). A copy of the letter can be found at: governor.oregon.gov/Gov/pdf/letters/gas052207.pdf

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Tim King May 23, 2007 9:50 pm (Pacific time)

To clarify, the most recent comment poster named Vic should not be confused with the person named Vic who posted before that. I verified that they are different people... this is noteworthy because the comments are extremely different in nature.

To the most recent Vic, good riddance. I don't care if you can not comprehend the role military people have played throughout history. It isn't always great, but most of the time at least in this country, people who serve are honorable. When they are not, I am the first one to be critical.

For the record, I did not slight any of the people you mentioned; you are dreaming and you do not comprehend the overall context of what led to those few words being written. We are frequently commended for not being too far out in either political field. You need to go back to indymedia and talk to your choir. We will not always appease people, but the bottom line irony is that they guy we booted off the site is a right wing extremist. I think you defeat your own cause. Be a man when you have to, sometimes it isn't nice, but then neither are the forces in the world that require us to have a military in the first place. I'm going to go write news again, hasta Vic.

Vic May 23, 2007 8:17 pm (Pacific time)

So combat soldiers "pay the highest price in all of society"? That is a slap in the face to people who spend their lives helping, not killing people..for instance, nurses, hospice workers, police men and women, firefighters, Grandparents raising grandkids, school teachers , RNs who change bedpans for elderly patients for minimum wage, decent people who dont want to kill or injure or dominate anyone...need I go on? It is to me , a sign of a sick society when those who gleefully volunteer to kill others are heralded as heroes , and those who do not seek the guts and glory , but quietly do their jobs and contribute to the good of society ,are disregarded. Perhaps Salem-News.com should be called Salem-Military News.com. You wont have to worry about my comments anymore either.

Vic May 23, 2007 7:44 am (Pacific time)

I have been impressed with the degree of tolerance and open mindedness shown by Tim and the Salem-News staff. I have been surprised that some of my own comments were published. I commend Tim and the others for what I consider good, even handed journalism !

The Editor- Tim King May 22, 2007 9:33 pm (Pacific time)

Well, for all the people who have been frustrated by a comment poster named Rosenberg, your lucky day has arrived. I have tried to be understanding of the guy's jaded position in life and I have personally taken the time to commend some of his viewpoints. Embarrassingly, I have very recently been telling people that he can even on rare occasions make sense, like when he criticizes the presidential administration.

But today he tried to post a personal insult toward us and that means no more Rosenberg for all of you decent people out there. At the bottom of this post you will see all of the pseudo names ol' rosey has been using.

This is not a political move for the record. I have let this guy antagonize people for a long time and he does claim to be an ultra right conservative. That is fine with me; everyone is fine with me, but today he delivered a personal insult and it was the straw that in this case, dropped the camel to the ground.

A few days ago I mentioned an increased editing presence in the comment section. They are all approved by a living, breathing person as it is, but we fear we have been too lenient.

I hope that for some of our regular visitors, this announcement will be regarded as great news. It will be a pleasure to not see his name or his ramblings anymore. Ding dong, the witch is dead.

There is nothing wrong with any individual's politics when the overall goal is good for all people. Antagonistic attacks get really old though, and one major point about Rosenberg is that is that he attacks anything or anybody with an agenda rooted in peace and understanding.

One interesting irony is that he obviously has a thing for names that sound like they are Native American; "Running Bear" and "Jason Two-Dogs". Then he uses "Armstrong" which is the middle name of General Custer. And he rages against people who are immigrants. Well, I have spent a lot of time around Native Americans and most do not seem too driven to see the white man keep this land for himself. In fact, many see the Hispanic as a brother, they share much of the same heritage in many cases.

I think you call that the epitome of hypocrisy.

Life is short, burial cloaks have no pockets. It is time for all of us to be decent and tolerant and understanding.

This guy has been anything but nice or kind. I have watched him play psychological warfare with our other comment posters for too long. Maybe you didn't think this day would come rosenberg, but it is here. I'm sorry you chose to get personal with us, in my opinion we have been very tolerant.

You see, our team at Salem-News.com has the easy ability to ban somebody like this from the site. We also can easily see all of his comments, at least the ones from his IP, with the click of a button. So here are all the aliases of our antagonistic former problem who never even had the courage to tell us his real name:

Running Bear
Oracle
Armstrong
Mathew (5-22-07)
SHIRLEY KITZHABER - My, Rosenberg, something you didn't tell us?
Krakatoa (5-22-07)
Hannigan II
Open the Border (5-19-07)
Hey Zus (5-1-07)
Mike Hammer (4-30-07)
RC
Ben Casey (4-26-07)
K Rove (4-23-07)
Vincent (4-24-07)
Coulter (4-23-07)
Oregon Vote (4-22-07)
Bush (4-22-07)
Marx (4-21-07)
Retired Contractors (4-19-07)
Sooth (4-19-07)
Dr. Kildare (4-18-07)
Raise Tuition (4-18-07)
Fred (4-16-07)
Fred Engels (4-16-07)
Butch Cassidy
Susan (4-16-07)
Murphy (4-16-07)
Needles (4-16-07)
Sharpton (4-16-07)
O'Reilly (4-16-07)

Miles, Jameson, Harvey, LeMay, Sanchez, Harrison, Walden, Simpson, Jason Two-Dogs, Sid Morrison, EJ Morgan, Jim B Davidson, Neal Goldsmith, and there are more.

Did he argue with himself? You bet. Did he set people up and bait them? You bet he did. He acted like a man and woman talking in the same post. Maybe one of those names is the real thing, maybe not. I think the guy needs help. If any of you have seen "Meet the Parents" and you know the character De Niro plays, a crazy military zealot who is nothing but a cruel nut job with too much money and too little to do, then you are getting my idea of who this man is/was.

I went to Afghanistan over last winter and I spent a lot of time recording soldiers in a war and I did not take it as an opportunity to do anything but tell it like it is. As it turned out, I witnessed incredible things that our people were doing and accomplishing. I didn't use it as an opportunity to launch an agenda, except maybe support of people who pay the highest price in all of society; the combat soldier. I am sad and dismayed that this person of many assumed names and personalities, has caused so much grief around our other visitors. Those days are over.

Tim King

One final note to all of the veterans who have watched all of this go on over the last few months; I would take arguments from any people who share this list of names and go back to the drawing board. He might have had me going a time or two, but burn me once shame on you, burn me twice... shame on me. I think he's full of it from A to Z.

Hank Ruark May 22, 2007 8:58 pm (Pacific time)

For pertinency, original should have made some direct reference to GAS situation, OR to gouging prevention, OR to similar component. If we are to believe Tim's statement yesterday, there is no possibility of generalized provocation now to be allowed to anyone, nor will personal attack direct or by implication be further tolerated, either. Many of us are more than willing to return to normal civility and open, honest, and helpful dialog on the issues, but not if transparent provocation is to be allowed.

Hank Ruark May 22, 2007 8:49 pm (Pacific time)

Thanks,SlM: Yrs makes very clear that ANY part of political OR foreign policy OR economic OR social issue could be used as topical focus for expenditures here...proving conclusively that original mentioned is simply ploy to further confuse and confound those seeking honest dialog from others really democratically concerned. Open channels like this one are under paid attack by those who seek to distort and pervert just the kind of open discussion for which S-N was originally founded and on which its reputation has been built --so far.

Hank Ruark May 22, 2007 7:41 pm (Pacific time)

In light of current story emphasis, I see no pertinency in any reference to tax levels. That is transparent effort to begin political discussion, the effects of which we've all felt recently. If others are to be held to rules re pertinency, all should be so held, right ??

S.LaMarche; May 22, 2007 6:17 pm (Pacific time)

so would a viable plan to tighten our own defensive perimeter, instead of Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea., or the money thrown at South America's drug eradication handouts to dictators of varied hues and political leanings. I know your opinion on this Mr. Rosenberg, but mine is there would be a lot of funds made available to address the raising cost of petrolium products controlled by APEC., rather than the continual investment in military means to assure the uninterrupted supply of it from politically unstable regions. Why do we need to be locked into buying from the mid-east anyway?

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Governors Call on President, Congress to Work to Lower U.S. Gas Prices

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