Nick Pope
Contributor
Numerous Democrats who have helped the Biden administration restrict fossil fuel development and production are now concerned about high gas prices as the 2024 elections loom.
A group of 23 Senate Democrats — including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Massachusetts Sen. Liz Warren and Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey — signed a Thursday letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to have the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigate major energy companies for allegedly colluding to raise gas prices for Americans and fatten their bottom lines. The suggestion that oil companies are illegally collaborating to rip off American consumers is not new to Democrats, who have revived the narrative as prices at the pump tick up ahead of the 2024 elections.
“The federal government must use every tool to prevent and prosecute collusion and price fixing that may have increased gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, and jet fuel costs in a way that has materially harmed virtually every American household and business,” the letter states. “We therefore urge the Department of Justice to investigate the oil industry, to hold accountable any liable actors, and to end any illegal activities.” (RELATED: Democrats Up Pressure On Big Oil To Answer For Alleged Profiteering As Americans Blame Biden For Gas Prices)
Big Oil – DOJ Letter by Nick Pope
The letter references ExxonMobil’s recent acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and amplifies the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) allegation that Chris Sheffield, the founder and ex-CEO of Pioneer, tried to organize collusion between American and OPEC energy producers to artificially inflate profits. Sheffield, however, has strongly contested this allegation, saying that the “FTC is wrong to imply that [he] ever engaged in, promoted or even suggested any form of anti-competitive behavior” in a statement.
Beyond Warren, Schumer and Casey, other signatories include Democratic Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. Each Senator who signed the letter also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Biden’s flagship climate bill, and have also supported many other facets of the Biden administration’s efforts to move the U.S. away from fossil fuels.
Warren’s voting record has earned her a 95% lifetime approval score from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), one of the country’s largest influential environmental groups that openly rejects fossil fuels, and a 100% score for 2023. Last year, Warren voted against an attempt to rein in the government’s push to regulate a wide array of consumer appliances, a bill promoting the Mountain Valley Pipeline and to protect a Labor Department rule pushing asset managers to incorporate climate risks in their investment decisions.
Casey voted in favor of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, but joined Warren on the other two votes. He also voted against a 2022 effort to increase the number of government-issued oil lease sales and opposed another 2022 move that would have prevented federal permitting or regulatory actions from hindering fossil fuel development.
Schumer also voted to support the Mountain Valley Pipeline in 2023, but he has voted in line with what LCV advised in every other instance since Biden took office in 2021, with one exception. He has opposed four legislatives proposals that would have made it easier or less expensive to produce oil and gas throughout Biden’s first term.
Murphy voted against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, and also opposed legislation that would have increased offshore and onshore oil and gas development.
Whitehouse voted against the Mountain Valley Pipeline, as well as numerous legislative efforts to enhance oil and gas leasing activity. Markey, meanwhile, has consistently voted against legislation intended to make it easier to produce oil and gas for his entire career.
Brown voted to support the Mountain Valley Pipeline, but he has opposed four initiatives meant to boost oil drilling through Biden’s first term. Sanders, one of the most left-wing lawmakers in Washington, also voted against the four same legislative efforts and has consistently opposed bills designed to make drilling easier throughout his career.
Gas prices are increasing as the pivotal 2024 elections approach on the calendar. In January, the national average per-gallon price of all formulations of gasoline was approximately $3.08, a figure that has increased to $3.60 as of May, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
The administration is moving to release about one million barrels of gasoline from the Northeast Gasoline Supply Reserve to try to bring down prices this summer. The administration also released 180 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) ahead of the 2022 midterms, selling several million barrels to Chinese companies and leaving the SPR at its lowest levels in decades.
Numerous economists and analysts, and even the CEO of Chevron, have credited the price increases in part to the Biden administration’s $1 trillion-plus climate agenda.
The administration has made many decisions that restrict domestic oil and gas production, pushed aggressive environmental regulations impacting energy producers and established massive subsidy programs to favor sources of green energy like wind and solar. These choices have the combined effect of driving up prices that consumers pay at the pump and elsewhere over time, according to the American Energy Alliance, a right-leaning energy advocacy group.
In January 2020, just before the onset of the pandemic, Americans paid an average of $2.55 per gallon for all types of gas, according to the EIA. Those figures have grown considerably since November 2020, the month that President Joe Biden won the presidential election; the average price sat at $3.61 per gallon in April 2024 after peaking at $4.92 in June 2022.
Democrats pushed similar messaging about major energy companies and collusion in 2022, when gas prices were causing political headaches for Biden and fellow Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. However, analysts from the Dallas branch of the Federal Reserve argued at the time that corporate collusion was not one of the factors driving up retail gasoline costs, pointing out that energy producers actually have almost zero control over the prices set by gas station operators.
The offices of Schumer, Warren, Casey, Brown, Murphy, Durbin, Whitehouse and Sanders did not respond to requests for comment.
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The “inflation reduction act” when fully implemented will increase the consumer cost of hydrocarbon energy by a factor of two or more. There will be some reduction in use due to this, but most of the added cost will be siphoned away.
From now until election day, the Dimocrats are doubling down on their Rob Peter to pay Paul election strategy. It’s retail politics writ large.
If you’re not in a voting bloc considered import to Team Biden’s reelection, your name is Paul.
Because most of the spending is tacked on to the debt, your children and grandchildren will all be named Paul. They’re the ones holding the bag when the bills come due.
I think you mean that the victims in this are named Peter, since he’s the one getting robbed. As George Bernard Shaw supposedly said, “A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul”
Oh man! Where’s that proofreader AI when you need it! Yes, those stuck with the bill are ‘Peter.’ Or ‘Petra.’
I think “getting robbed” is putting it way too mildly. Shafted? Reamed? Cornholed? Not even sure they convey what is happening.
Agree with you, and a little further, if and when the first amendment goes away, then wrong think will not be allowed, as neither will skepticism and this site.
It seems like their cheat this time will involve illegal immigrants voting, however, it’s difficult to tell what other surprises they have in mind. The hope is that ironically, the majority ironically wake up and become anti-woke, else the good old USA will be but a fond memory.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul has been the strategy of socialism from the beginning. Heck, it is socialism.
And socialists eventually, always run out of OPM.
The best comment on socialist economics I’ve ever read was by conservative writer David Horowitz, to wit:
“In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.”
Very true.
Most of the socialists that I have dealt with, don’t believe that wealth is created. It’s just there, which is why they feel government should be in charge of who gets what.
They no longer need OPM; they just print more.
Net Zero cannot be accomplished without massive energy conservation. Steadily rising prices for all forms of energy are a key element, if not the key element, of the Net Zero transition in discouraging consumption of all forms of energy.
Once the 2024 election is concluded, Biden and his people will go back to their policy of taking every action needed to incease the price of energy in all its forms.
Yes, I am pessimistic about the outcome of the upcoming election. I wish I could say I wasn’t pessimistic, but we have seen too much happen over the past four years which makes a positive outcome far from certain.
‘Convicted felon Donald Trump’ — be ready to hear that at least 3 times every newscast.
Biden’s going to lose to a convicted felon!
Deal with it!
I doubt it. But, I don’t like either one. Time for a new generation.
It looks like this time we’ll have to ignore both candidates’ physical capabilities as well as their personalities. We can judge each candidate on their record in office. Only then need we consider the probability of them being replaced by their choice of VP, and whether that VP is both competent and capable of continuing the original candidate’s policies.
While it might be time for “a new generation,” I’m afraid that boat has already sailed. With a lot of hard work, maybe next time. But, then you’ve still got the problem of the deeply embedded bureaucrats that control practically all the decisions of government.
It will be interesting to see who Trump picks. I presume Biden will continue with Harris- a 3fer, black, Indian and woman.
He’s already starting to lose blacks, if he dumps Harris and doesn’t pick another black, he’s toast.
MarkW: “He’s already starting to lose blacks, if he dumps Harris and doesn’t pick another black, he’s toast.”
Mark, don’t count your votes before Joe Biden’s people do. If 2024 is like 2020, the people Biden chooses to count the votes will have the final say.
The events of last week demonstrate there is nothing the current regime won’t do to stay in power. Nothing …..
I have said in the past that the Biden regime has not gone nearly as far as it could go in forcing a quick reduction in America’s consumption of fossil fuels. Public opinion has kept them in check. Partially, anyway.
If Joe Biden is president on January 21st, 2025, the flood gates of anti-carbon regulation will open in a way which dwarfs anything we’ve seen before — because any incentive these people might have had to restrain themselves will be gone.
Thinking that people are just going to have this global community spirit and voluntarily deprive themselves of any joy, convenience, necessities of life is madness.
Only the insane and those who firmly believe that there is an enduring cosmic reward for the impoverished lifestyle would voluntarily go along with what will be implemented as rationing, and it is a slam dunk guarantee that the ones who control the rationing will not deprive themselves of anything.
Voluntary is such a foreign concept.
Is it Poe’s Law that parody approaches reality until you can’t tell them apart?
I too am pessimistic. One of them is going to win.
In this case, its reality that is approaching parody.
The Babylon Bee is doomed.
Further to that:
Halfway Between Kyoto and 2050: Zero Carbon Is a Highly Unlikely Outcome
(https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/halfway-between-kyoto-and-2050?utm_source=Fraser-Institute-Enews&utm_campaign=Halfway-Between-Kyoto-and-2050&utm_medium=Fraser_Update&utm_content=Learn_More&utm_term=550)
“Net Zero cannot be accomplished…”
You could stop here.There is no positive outcome of the election. Republicans are also deeply invested in the ACGW fraud. EV/green tech will crumble under any administration by laws of nature and economics.
There’s only one thing you need to remember where the new climate change religion – and the congregation – is concerned.
Nothing, but nothing, has been thought through.
Is it “better late than never”, or is it “too late”? Democrats discover the relationship of cause and effect, now it’s up to voters. MAGA!
I think it is imperative that not only the oatmeal-for-brains puppet POTATUS Biden be removed but, every democrat down ballot too.
I consider the democrats to be a gang of thieves that will vote in unison for whatever their party says. There are no “moderate” democrats, that I can see, looking out for the average citizen. They all act together to beat down any opposition to the party narrative. There is no conversation or exchange of ideas other than “do what you are told”.
FJB and the donkey he rode in on.
If you think it’s bad at the federal level- it’s far worse in Wokeachusetts where there is zero opposition.
I’m currently in the Soviet Socialist State of Illinois so I feel your pain. Our only choice is to push for the most conservative option or the lesser of the evils.
My county used to be a republican stronghold pushing back against the fascists in Chicago and Crook County. That was until Soros and his minions flooded so much money into leftist campaigns that the people with decent policies gave up against what they thought were overwhelming odds.
Lots of money buys influence and pushes the propaganda so that the low information voter goes along with it. We are stuck with the idiots in charge and their useful idiots.
FJB and the donkey he rode in on.
DuPage county? I’m from there and yes the Shiity of Chicago and Crook county overcame all the good Republicans and conservatives. Now the whole State is ruined. So sad. Sigh.
Actually, most of the state, especially downstate, is conservative. We are just overshadowed by all the leftists in Crook County where most of the population is.
My point exactly-I went to school downstate in farm country…always happily conservative. When I said the state was ruined I meant outvoted and Dem abused.
You are overshadowed because the Warren Court didn’t like the idea that rural hayseeds might put a damper on implementing the ‘progressive’ ideas of urban elites.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reynolds_v._Sims
I suspect the source of leftist extremism is Wokeachusetts is Hah-vid. It has 50 billion dollars at its disposal. Most of its graduates are wealthy of course. It has immense prestige.
Typical that the left blames everyone else but itself for problems it creates.
If you undercut competitors, that’s predatory pricing.
If you charge more, that’s price gouging.
If you charge the same, that’s collusion.
nice!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
First chuckle of my day!
Sing the old Mother Jones song to the Democrats. “Which Side Are You On, Boys, Which Side Are You On?”.
Trying to take both sides of the issue leads to splinters in your crotch from fence sitting.
It’s even worse if the fence is strung with barb wire.
Tax the rich, feed the poor
Till there are no rich no more
Ten Years After (1971)
I received an over-sized and colorful post card from Congresswoman Kim Schrier (gerrymandered WA 8th district) bragging about her support of going after corporations because they are greedy. Maria Cantwell (WA – Dem) signed the letter mentioned in this post.
These folks cause a problem and then propose a solution that compounds the damage. “May they find bees and miss the honey.”
As a hobby beekeeper, I love the image your post conjures up. Sums up sleepy old Joe and his political support team perfectly. They hear the buzz of industry but have no idea how to maximise its potential or tap into the sweet output.
John, you should be aware that the West Siders are now working hard to gain a super -majority in the Washington State legislature. If they gain that super-majority, they plan to amend the state constitution to raise the current 1% cap on property taxes to 3%. With the 1% cap removed, property taxes in our state would quickly double and eventually triple. (Just what you wanted to hear, I know.)
hmmm… looks like that “grey alien” has a headache!
“A group of 23 Senate Democrats”
And, both from Wokeachusetts!
__________________________________________________________________
I always thought the standard definition of “Chutzpah” was the child on trial for murdering his parents asks the court for leniency because he’s now an orphan.
Perhaps a new standard hasn’t been reached, but it’s close.
If the current US administration is worried about high gasoline prices, they should consider pumping out the SPR. They’ve already run it down to 50 percent of the level it had sustained for 15 years, so why not use it all? After all, who needs a strategic petroleum reserve when it’s going to be all electric, all the time?
Or, they can beg the Saudis to pump more oil. Oh, wait…
A supersonic fighter can’t run far on electric. Oh, wait… there is not even a dream of an electric supersonic fighter. Unless maybe they run on $400+/gal corn fuel.
Yep – at that rate, neither Russia nor China would need to actually engage our fighters. They would just make them sortie to protect and run. In a week, we’d be out of fuel and out of money.
But after all, the Democratic Party platform differs little from whatever you want to call the Russian/Chinese method of governance (tyranny), so, win-win for Democrats.
Reap what you sow, morons.
The more serious problem is that journalists who know that this is naked politicking, are too much in bed with Democrats to point it out.
Your government in action. What a disgrace. Create problems then blame others for the consequences. A bunch of liars and cheats.
‘It’s an exploration of our position, that’s how I would describe it. The Scottish Government wants to work with the oil and gas sector to ensure its fiscal sustainability.’
Now desperate Swinney set to perform a U-turn over oil and gas (msn.com)
LOL.
“We need the oil and gas sector to contribute to the transition to net zero, so it has to be strong enough and robust enough to do that.”
= We do not want complete destruction of real economy. We want the parasitic green tech to exist forever on top of real economy.