On First Day of Summer, Hagan Talks about Gas Prices with Drivers in Wilmington
June 20, 2008
GREENSBORO, N.C. – State Senator and U.S. Senate Nominee Kay Hagan (D-Guilford) was in Wilmington today to talk to consumers about the drastic increase in the price of gas. When Elizabeth Dole took office in 2003, the average price of gas was $1.52 per gallon. Earlier this week average prices skyrocketed to a record $4.08 per gallon. Kay is prepared to advocate for hardworking North Carolinians who need a break at the pump, and today she met local drivers at the Top Shell Mart to learn first-hand about how record gas prices are affecting these individuals and their families.
“Gas prices are climbing higher everyday – is there even an end in sight? Elizabeth Dole again sided with Big Oil and Gas over her North Carolina constituents when she voted against a measure that would have redirected tax incentives for Big Oil and Gas into investments in clean energy entrepreneurs,” Kay said. “Working families need a break. I have proposed an energy plan that rolls back those tax breaks for Big Oil and Gas and reinvests those tax dollars into clean and renewable energy sources. My plan reduces America’s dependence on foreign oil, brings relief at the pump, and creates new, clean jobs here in North Carolina that cannot be exported.”
American drivers cut back on the number of highway miles driven for the sixth month in a row according to government data. While the sixth-month total amounted to 30 billion less miles driven by consumers, in April alone, that number was 1.4 billion miles. This record sixth month decline is the most since the 1979-1980 Iranian Revolution, during which the price of oil spiked after the Shah of Iran was overthrown.
“I drive to work in the mornings, and I come right home at night,” said Lauren Holton of her driving habits since the average price of gas skyrocketed this month. “If I go out, I will walk downtown.”
“We need to end our dependence on foreign oil by reinvesting tax incentives given to Big Oil and Gas into clean, green collar jobs that can’t be shipped overseas,” Kay said. “Dole has been in Washington for 40 years – she’s had plenty of time to get this right and she simply hasn’t.”
This was Kay’s second gas station visit of the week. She spoke to consumers in Raleigh on Wednesday about her forward thinking, comprehensive energy plan.
###
