Political Theater for Republicans, Real Challenges for the American

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
November 9, 2005

Contact: Karen Finney, 202-863-8148

Political Theater for Republicans, Real Challenges for the American
People

Washington, DC - Still reeling from a long summer of skyrocketing gas
prices and worried about a long winter of soaring home heating costs,
the American people want the Republican Congress to hold Big Oil
accountable for reaping record profits while charging record prices.
Sadly, since four of the five oil company executives testifying are
Republican donors and the Republicans on the committees are refusing to
force them to testify under oath, there is little chance that today's
hearings will be anything more than what one conservative activist
called "theater."

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean today issued the
following statement:

"It is hard to argue that today's hearings are anything more than
political theater for Republicans in Congress when they can't even
bring themselves to make these oil company executives testify under
oath. The American people deserve more than a wink and nod before the
cameras. They deserve leaders who will hold the special interests'
feet to the fire, swear them in, and hold them accountable for their
outrageous prices. The American people deserve to know why they have
been forced to pay record gas prices while oil companies have reported
record profits.

"America can do better. Democrats are committed to standing up for
America's working families by providing real relief from home heating
costs this winter and working to put America on the path towards energy
independence by 2020. Republicans in Washington should put aside the
political theater, and join Democrats in putting the American people
ahead of their special interest friends and corporate cronies."

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