FLINT – State Representatives Brenda Clack (D-Flint), John J. Gleason (D-Flushing), Lee Gonzales (D-Flint Township) and Paula Zelenko (D-Burton) today called on Michigan residents fed up with skyrocketing gas prices to sign an online petition, launched by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm, that calls for President Bush to back a cap on exorbitant oil company profits.
"In just one week, more than 150,000 people have signed the petition," Clack said. "Working families are having a hard time getting from paycheck to paycheck, and they are outraged that big oil companies are raking in billions of dollars in profits. I'm outraged, too. It's time for a change."
Gleason pointed out that local gas station owners also are hurting as the cost of oil rises.
"About 95 percent of Michigan gas stations are locally owned and operated by our own residents," Gleason said. "When the cost of a barrel of oil hits $70 or more, our local businesses feel the pinch. It has a negative impact on our local economy and on the state's overall economy."
Gonzales noted that oil prices have increased 240 percent since President Bush was inaugurated in January 2001. The average price for unleaded gasoline is 64 cents higher than this time last year. According to The Detroit News,[1] under Bush's watch, the oil industry has received $5 billion in new tax breaks even as gas prices rise.
"Michigan's economy relies on tourism and manufacturing, and both of those industries depend on affordable gas prices," Gonzales said. "If the price of gas continues to increase at this rate, our working families won't be able to take weekend trips to visit grandparents or go up north. Manufacturers will have to raise their prices as it becomes more expensive for them to ship their products to our stores. We need change, and we need it now."
Zelenko and her colleagues also voiced support for the Oil Company Accountability Act, a Democratic bill that would repeal $5 billion in tax breaks for oil companies and give an immediate $500 tax rebate to families to offset high energy costs. Families earning up to $119,950 would be eligible for the one-time tax rebate.
"Our working families have had enough of billion-dollar corporations getting billion-dollar tax breaks," Zelenko said. "The average citizen deserves a break, too. I applaud the plan to give our working families tax breaks, but we must do more. Let's sign this petition and let our voices be heard: Michigan demands real action and real relief, right now."
To sign the online petition, go to www.michigan.gov/lowergasprices.
[1] "How High Will Prices Go?", April 25, 2006