WASHINGTON – President Bush’s new chief of staff said Sunday that the White House plan to address high gasoline prices will have only a modest effect and the ultimate goal must be reducing dependence on foreign oil.
“This is a very large problem,” Josh Bolten said on “Fox News Sunday.” “It’s built up over many years – decades, in fact. It’s not going to be solved in the short run by some silver bullet.”
Administration officials appearing on Sunday talk shows, drove home the importance of reducing U.S. consumption of foreign oil. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called it a “trap,” and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman acknowledged that rising gas prices had become a crisis. But he suggested that finding short-term fixes to soothe consumers angered by pump prices topping $3 per gallon might be difficult.
“The suppliers have lost control of the market. Demand exceeds supply,” Bodman said, citing demand worldwide from China, Indian and other growing economies. “Clearly, we’re going to have a number of years – two to three years – before suppliers are in a position to meet the needs of demands.”
Rice left the impression that the president is not going to take action against oil-producing nations for high prices through the World Trade Organization, as some lawmakers have urged. She said the United States is encouraging oil-rich countries to increase production, but the long-term solution is to diversify sources of energy.
Bolten said he didn’t know how much the president’s plan would lower the price of a gallon gas. “I expect the effects would be relatively modest,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Bush said last week that he wants Congress to give him the power to raise fuel efficiency standards for cars. The fleet average of 27.5 miles per gallon has not changed for two decades.
Bolten said the president does not have a specific increase in mind and the transportation secretary would take time to figure it out. Bolten said Bush does not just want to raise the standard, but change it so that it is based on vehicle weight and size.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the U.S. must start looking at increasing domestic supply such as “sensible drilling.” Rolling back gas taxes or handing out $100 rebates, as Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has proposed, might soothe consumers this summer but not in the long run, she said.
But Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., said the U.S. cannot assume it can “drill our way out” but should renew efforts on boosting competition and creating an alternative fuel market. “We need a strong law in place to protect consumers today.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
