06-24-2000

ENERGY: Rising Gasoline Prices Fuel Spending Bill

It was a grand political gesture that may have as little value as a dollar
at the gas pumps, but the House Appropriations Committee voted on June 20
to encourage the President to draw down national oil reserves to increase
gasoline supplies and lower prices.


The provision was included in the $21.7 billion Energy and Water
Development appropriations bill, which Democrats say faces a dead end at
the White House because it contains $950 million less than Clinton
requested.


Committee members, whose phones are ringing with constituents' protests
about high gasoline prices, endorsed an amendment offered by Rep. Carolyn
C. Kilpatrick, D-Mich., to reauthorize the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
The stockpile can be used in times of energy "emergencies" to
replenish the U.S. oil market and lower gas prices for consumers. (Clinton
on June 22 called on Congress to reauthorize the reserve but indicated he
was more concerned about setting aside a home-heating oil reserve for next
winter.)


Rep. Ronald C. Packard, R-Calif., the chairman of the Energy and Water
Development Appropriations Subcommittee, tried to persuade his Republican
colleagues to vote the amendment down because it "authorizes on an
appropriations bill," something lawmakers try-usually in vain-to
avoid during the annual appropriations process. But several Republicans,
whose states are experiencing particularly high gas prices, spoke in favor
of the Kilpatrick amendment, and it was approved on a voice vote.


But the House Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, opposes addressing the issue on a spending
bill and could cause procedural hurdles for the legislation when it
reaches the House floor.


Bill Ghent

National Journal