SUNUNU ON GAS PRICES: I CAN'T HELP YOU

Sununu's approach won't help for years, is a known psychological gimmick

(Manchester, NH) - As gas prices continue skyrocketing above $4 per gallon, John Sununu hosted a conference call with reporters yesterday to discuss his response. His message to New Hampshire: I can't help you.

"John Sununu admits his approach won't do anything to bring down the cost of gas, and he's even said there's nothing Washington can do to help," said Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign. "Apparently, John Sununu doesn't know that he was elected to work on solving problems. Instead, for six years in the Senate, Sununu has just thrown his hands in the air and hasn't even tried to address the difficult challenges facing New Hampshire and the nation. Sununu's won't-even-try attitude is just part of the problem."

During yesterday's conference call, Sununu admitted that lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling won't have an impact on gas prices for years. He even said that it was "naive" to expect quick results. [AP, 6/25/08] His comments yesterday echo a statement in 2006 when Sununu said: "'But the fact remains there's not a great deal that can be done in Washington to affect the price of gasoline at the pump when oil is $75 a barrel." [Concord Monitor, 4/26/06]

Sununu yesterday reiterated his support for John McCain's plan to end the ban on offshore oil drilling. But even McCain has acknowledged the plan would have little impact on gas prices and is mostly a "psychological" measure. [MSNBC, 6/24/06]

Sununu proposes drilling that would have little impact on gas prices, and he has stood in the way of real solutions that could bring quick relief. John Sununu has voted six times against closing the Enron loophole that allows Wall Street speculators to drive up the price of oil. [Senate Vote #436, 11/5/03; Senate Vote 434, 12/14/07; Senate Vote #130, 5/15/08; Senate Vote #140, 5/22/08; Senate Vote #144, 6/5/08; Senate Vote #151, 6/18/08] Experts testified this week before Congress that if the loophole were closed, "Oil prices could fall to half their current levels...." [CNN, 6/24/08]

New Hampshire needs a Senator who confronts difficult challenges and works for real solutions. But Sununu just throws his hands in the air and proposes a fake plan that would have no real benefits.