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Higgins Sees Little Relief from Rising Gas Prices

By Kenneth Macdonald

Dunkirk, NY – Congressman Higgins says the US is addicted to foreign oil and until that addiction is cured, don't expect relief at the gas pump.

Gasoline prices have shot up by more than 20-cents per gallon over the past month in the Buffalo area. Higgins says fluctuations in prices respond to many variables including instability in the Middle East.

Speaking in Dunkirk Wednesday, Higgins said the last Congress did not help the situation with energy policies that give big oil companies a pass.

"Congress passed an energy bill that gave huge tax breaks to oil companies at the same time they were announcing record profits," Higgins said. "That's $14 billion that should be going into programs that seek to lessen our reliance on foreign oil and develop alternative energy sources."

Higgins says some states provide short-term relief from peak spring and summer prices by eliminating taxes. But he says fundamental changes must occur to reduce costs in the long run.