As a new USA Today/Gallup survey shows nearly 70 percent of Americans suffering “financial hardship” thanks to a national average of nearly $4-per-gallon gas, Ohioans are reminded that not only is liberal U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) refusing to work with Republicans on bipartisan efforts to lower the price at the pump, he is actually attempting to drive the price of fuel up by raising energy taxes.

As USA Today reports:

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for their families, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. More than half say they have made major changes to compensate for the higher prices, ranging from shorter trips to cutting back on vacation travel. For 21%, the impact is so dramatic they say their standard of living is jeopardized. Nationally, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.96. That’s up 38%, or $1.09, from levels a year ago. In seven states, gas prices have passed July 2008′s record of $4.11 a gallon.

But instead of working to expand domestic production and lower fuel costs for Ohio’s families and job creators, Brown and the liberal wing of the Democrat Party are working to raise energy taxes – a reckless move that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports would “make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.”

“With the vast majority of Ohio’s families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why is Sherrod Brown working to drive energy costs even higher with his proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Yet again, Brown’s liberal Washington agenda has put him in direct conflict with the interests of Ohio families and small businesses.”

WASHINGTON – As a new USA Today/Gallup survey shows nearly 70 percent of Americans suffering “financial hardship” thanks to a national average of nearly $4-per-gallon gas, Floridians are reminded that not only is liberal U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) refusing to work with Republicans on bipartisan efforts to lower the price at the pump, he is actually attempting to drive the price of fuel up by raising energy taxes.

As USA Today reports:

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for their families, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. More than half say they have made major changes to compensate for the higher prices, ranging from shorter trips to cutting back on vacation travel. For 21%, the impact is so dramatic they say their standard of living is jeopardized. Nationally, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.96. That’s up 38%, or $1.09, from levels a year ago. In seven states, gas prices have passed July 2008′s record of $4.11 a gallon.

But instead of working to expand domestic production and lower fuel costs for Florida’s families and job creators, Nelson and the liberal wing of the Democrat Party are working to raise energy taxes – a reckless move that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports would “make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.”

“With the vast majority of Florida’s families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why is Bill Nelson working to drive energy costs even higher with his proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Yet again, Nelson’s liberal Washington agenda has put him in direct conflict with the interests of Florida families and small businesses.”

As a new USA Today/Gallup survey shows nearly 70 percent of Americans suffering “financial hardship” thanks to a national average of nearly $4-per-gallon gas, New Jersey voters are reminded that not only is liberal U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) refusing to work with Republicans on bipartisan efforts to lower the price at the pump, he is actually attempting to drive the price of fuel up by raising energy taxes.

As USA Today reports:

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for their families, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. More than half say they have made major changes to compensate for the higher prices, ranging from shorter trips to cutting back on vacation travel. For 21%, the impact is so dramatic they say their standard of living is jeopardized. Nationally, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.96. That’s up 38%, or $1.09, from levels a year ago. In seven states, gas prices have passed July 2008′s record of $4.11 a gallon.

But instead of working to expand domestic production and lower fuel costs for New Jersey’s families and job creators, Menendez – who remains under federal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice – and the liberal wing of the Democrat Party are working to raise energy taxes – a reckless move that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports would “make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.”

“With the vast majority of New Jersey’s families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why is Bob Menendez working to drive energy costs even higher with his proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond.  “Yet again, Menendez’s extreme Washington agenda has put him in direct conflict with the interests of New Jersey families and small businesses.”

While his fellow Washington liberals claim that near-record-high gas prices are “not the issue,” even several Senate Democrats have called Menendez’s proposal “laughable,” and have made clear that his tax hikes will “cost thousands of jobs” and “increase our dependency on foreign oil.”

Sadly, this is not the first time Bob Menendez has displayed his enthusiasm for energy tax hikes and high gas prices: Menendez has repeatedly voted in support of a job-killing cap-and-trade energy tax.

As a new USA Today/Gallup survey shows nearly 70 percent of Americans suffering “financial hardship” thanks to a national average of nearly $4-per-gallon gas, Missourians are reminded that not only is liberal U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) refusing to work with Republicans on bipartisan efforts to lower the price at the pump, she is actually attempting to drive the price of fuel up by raising energy taxes.

As USA Today reports:

As gas prices hover near $4 a gallon, nearly seven in 10 Americans say the high cost of fuel is causing financial hardship for their families, a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds. More than half say they have made major changes to compensate for the higher prices, ranging from shorter trips to cutting back on vacation travel. For 21%, the impact is so dramatic they say their standard of living is jeopardized. Nationally, the price of a gallon of regular gasoline averages $3.96. That’s up 38%, or $1.09, from levels a year ago. In seven states, gas prices have passed July 2008′s record of $4.11 a gallon.

But instead of working to expand domestic production and lower fuel costs for Missouri’s families and job creators, McCaskill is working with the liberal wing of the Democrat Party to raise energy taxes – a reckless move that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports would “make oil and natural gas more expensive for U.S. consumers and likely increase foreign dependence.”

“With the vast majority of Missouri families suffering ‘financial hardship’ thanks to $4-a-gallon gas, why is Claire McCaskill working to drive energy costs even higher with her proposed tax hikes?” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Chris Bond.  “Yet again, McCaskill’s liberal Washington agenda has put her in direct conflict with the interests of Missouri families and small businesses.”

While her fellow Washington liberals claim that near-record-high gas prices are “not the issue,” McCaskill herself does not deny that her proposed tax hikes will result in higher energy costs for Missouri families and small businesses.  Meanwhile, even several of McCaskill’s fellow Senate Democrats have called her proposal “laughable,” and have made clear that her tax hikes will “cost thousands of jobs” and “increase our dependency on foreign oil.”

Sadly, this is not the first time Claire McCaskill has displayed her enthusiasm for energy tax hikes and high gas prices: McCaskill has expressed her support for a job-killing cap-and-trade energy tax, and recently said “the good news is our emissions are way down because of the recession.”

Notably, McCaskill’s tax-hiking, energy-price-increasing agenda stands in marked contrast to her fellow Missouri U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO), who strongly opposes raising energy taxes and is working to expand domestic energy production.