Gas Has Risen By Over $2.00 A Gallon Since Obama & Heinrich Took Office

President Barack Obama is campaigning in Carlsbad, New Mexico, today and – while his liberal ally Congressman Martin Heinrich has decided to stay back in Washington so he can fundraise – New Mexicans are paying dearly for their failed energy agenda.

When Barack Obama and Martin Heinrich took office, a gallon of gasoline was $1.85 but today it’s $3.86, an increase of over $2.00.  Additionally, the average price of gas has reached a record high price for the month of March.

Heinrich also supports Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi’s job-killing cap-and-trade bill, which if passed would result in higher energy bills for families in New Mexico.

Notably, following his trip to New Mexico the President will head to Oklahoma where he will announce his support for the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline, which Heinrich opposes.  This is yet another reminder that Heinrich is even more liberal than President Obama.

“After three years of President Barack Obama and liberal Democrat Congressman Martin Heinrich’s failed energy policies, New Mexicans have seen their gas prices increase by over $2.00 a gallon,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Between Heinrich’s support for cap-and-trade and his fierce opposition to the Keystone Pipeline – which make him more liberal than President Obama – it’s clear New Mexicans can no longer afford Heinrich’s job-killing energy policies.” 

BACKGROUND …

The Failed Energy Polices Of Martin Heinrich

HIGHER GAS PRICES

When Barack Obama & Martin Heinrich Took Office, The Price For A Gallon Of Regular Gasoline Was $1.847. (Energy Information Administration, Accessed 2/7/12)

The Price For A Gallon Of Regular Gasoline On March 19, 2012 Was $3.867. (Energy Information Administration, Accessed 3/20/12)

The Average Price Of A Gallon Of Regular Is At The Highest Ever Recorded Price In March. “The average price of a gallon of regular is now $3.87, the highest recorded price in March. The average price is up nearly 4 cents from a week ago, and over 30 cents from a year ago, according to the Department of Energy, as more drivers face gas prices of $4 a gallon or more across the country. Last week, the average gas price was $3.83 a gallon, the previous record according to data going back to 1990.” (Zunaira Zaki, “Highest Gas Price Recorded In March,” ABC News, 3/19/12)

A JOB-KILLING CAP-AND-TRADE BILL

Heinrich Supported The Job Killing Waxman-Markey Cap-And-Trade Bill: The “American Clean Energy And Security Act Of 2009”

Heinrich Said He Was Proud Of His Vote For The Cap-And-Trade Bill. “Heinrich said he’s proud of his votes on two of the most controversial issues of the 111th Congress – the Obama health care legislation and a so-called cap-and-trade energy bill designed to curb greenhouse emissions.” (Michael Coleman, “A Race Of Contrasts,” Albuquerque Journal, 10/10/10)

The American Council For Capital Formation And The National Association Of Manufacturers Projected New Mexico Jobs Would “Decline By 9,331 Under The Low Cost Case And By 12,709 Under The High Cost Case” Under The Waxman-Markey Cap-And-Trade Bill. “The jobs impact of W/M is delayed by the free allocation of permits and generous carbon offsets. By 2030, as emission reduction targets tighten  and other W/M  provisions phase out, New Mexico jobs decline by 9,331 under the low cost case and by 12,709 under the high cost case (Figure 2). The primary cause of job losses is lower industrial output due to higher energy prices, the high cost of complying with required emissions cuts,  and greater competition from overseas manufacturers with lower energy costs.” (American Council For Capital Formation And National Association Of Manufacturers, “Economic Impact On The State From The Waxman-Markey Bill, H.R. 2454,” www.accf.org, August 2009)

The Wall Street Journal: “Americans Should Know That Those Members Who Vote For This Climate Bill Are Voting For What Is Likely To Be The Biggest Tax In American History. Even Democrats Can’t Repeal That Reality.” (Editorial, “The Cap And Tax Fiction,” The Wall Street Journal, 6/26/09)

AND HEINRICH OPPOSES THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE, WHICH MAKES HIM MORE LIBERAL & EXTREME THAN BARACK OBAMA

“President Obama On Thursday Will Call For Expediting Construction Of The Southern Segment Of The Keystone XL Pipeline, According To A White House Official.” (Aamer Madhani, “Obama Wants Southern Segment Of Keystone XL Expedited,” USA Today’s The Oval Blog,  www.usatoday.com, 3/20/12)

The Obama White House Praised TransCanada’s Announcement In February That It Would Move Forward With The Process To Build The Southern Half Of The Keystone XL Pipeline. “Late last month, TransCanada, the company behind the Keystone XL Pipeline, announced it would move forward with the process to build the southern half of the pipeline, which would begin in Cushing – the president’s third stop on his two-day energy tour. The White House praised the move.” (Brianna Keilar, “Source: Obama To Fast Track Southern Portion Of Keystone XL Pipeline,” CNN’s The 1600 Report Blog, www.cnn.com, Posted 3/20/12)

Heinrich Opposes The Entire Keystone Pipeline, Which He Called The “Tar Sands Pipeline,” Saying It Was Not “Clean” Or “Domestic.” “U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) released the following statement today after President Obama denied the pending application for the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline: ‘I’m committed to an energy future for our nation that is both clean and domestic. The tar sands pipeline is neither. Through American ingenuity we can unleash the full potential of clean, home-grown energy and put even more New Mexicans to work.’” (Congressman Martin Heinrich, “Heinrich Statement On The Tar Sands Pipeline,” Press Release, 1/18/12)

Heinrich Voted Against Requiring The White House To Make A Permitting Decision On Keystone XL By November 1, 2011.  “Passage of the bill that would require the administration to make a permitting decision on the Keystone XL oil pipeline within 30 days after the final environmental impact statement is issued or by Nov. 1, whichever is earlier. It would direct the president, working through the Energy secretary, to coordinate with federal agencies to make sure necessary review stages are expedited.” (H.R. 1938, CQ Vote #650: Passed by a vote of 279-147: R 232-3; D 47-144, 7/26/11, Heinrich Voted Nay)

Heinrich Voted Against A Payroll Tax Extension Bill That Required The President To Approve The Keystone XL Pipeline Within 60 Days. “Passage of the bill that would extend the 4.2 percent employee payroll tax rate through 2012. It also would provide for a 1 percent increase in Medicare payments rates to doctors in 2012 and 2013, preventing a reduction scheduled to occur in 2012. The bill also would extend workers’ eligibility for certain expanded unemployment benefits through January 2013 and would make certain changes to eligibility criteria for the benefits. It also would reduce the maximum duration of benefits from 99 weeks to 59 weeks. The bill would increase the fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for guaranteeing home loans by at least 0.1 percentage point and, beginning in 2017, would raise Medicare premiums paid by people making over $80,000 per year. It also would require the president to approve the Keystone XL pipeline permit application within 60 days of the bill’s enactment unless it is determined that the pipeline is not in the national interest.” (H.R. 3630, CQ Vote #923: Passed By A Vote Of 234-193, R 224-14; D 10-179, 12/13/11, Heinrich Voted Nay)