SCHAKOWSKY: ILLINOIS FAMILIES ARE RUNNING ON EMPTY BECAUSE BUSHS OIL PALS ARE FILLING UP ON PROFITS FROM THE GAS PUMPS JOINS SENATOR DURBIN & IL PIRG IN CALLING FOR FUEL EFFICIENT CARS AND SUVS

May 27, 2004
Press Release

MAY 27, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: "ILLINOIS FAMILIES
ARE RUNNING ON EMPTY BECAUSE BUSH'S OIL PALS ARE FILLING UP
ON PROFITS FROM THE GAS PUMPS"

JOINS SENATOR DURBIN & IL PIRG IN CALLING FOR FUEL EFFICIENT CARS AND SUVSCHICAGO, IL -- U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today called on President Bush to abandon his friends in the oil industry and to instead side with families across the country who are demanding relief at the gas pump. Consumers in Illinois today pay an average of $2.08 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, more than the national average, while a company like ConocoPhillips recently reported its largest first quarter profits ever.

"Since President Bush took office, Americans have experienced a 56% increase in gasoline prices, and families, on average, are now paying $600 more for gas each year. And since candidate Bush began running for President in 2000, he's gotten $3.5 million in campaign contributions from his friends in the oil business," Schakowsky said.

"Illinois families are running on empty because President Bush's oil pals are filling up on profits from the gas pumps," Schakowsky added.

During a news conference in Chicago with Senator Dick Durbin and Illinois Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Schakowsky said President Bush should support real long term energy solutions. Schakowsky pointed to a proposal by Durbin to require U.S. automobile manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency in vehicles to 40mpg. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, increasing vehicle fuel economy standards to 40mpg would save consumers $16 billion and reduce the total amount of oil used by cars and tucks by one-third in 2020.

"President Bush's shortsighted plan to drill in the Alaska wilderness will harm the environment and supply us with only six months worth of gasoline. The real solution is to increase fuel efficiency in cars so consumers can save money, our nation can break its dependence on foreign oil, and Americans can live in a healthier, cleaner environment," Schakowsky said.

Schakowsky pointed to a study prepared by Illinois PIRG titled "Going Nowhere: The Price Consumers Pay for Stalled Fuel Economy Policies." The study identified increased fuel efficiency in the next 10 years as the top solution to lower gas prices. The study found that found:

  • Americans will pay almost twice as much at the gas pump--$72 million more--this Memorial Day weekend than they would with a 40 mpg fuel economy standard;
  • Americans will use 35.7 million more gallons of gas than they would under a 40 mpg fuel economy standard; and
  • Americans will consume 1.8 million more barrels of foreign oil this Memorial Day weekend than they would with a 40 mpg fuel economy standard.