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  Economy puts heat on politicians
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ContributorArmyDem 
Last EditedArmyDem  Apr 30, 2008 10:58am
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CategoryNews
MediaNewspaper - Los Angeles Times
News DateWednesday, April 30, 2008 04:00:00 PM UTC0:0
DescriptionAs prices rise and constituents call for action, officeholders float proposals and seek to deflect blame.

By Richard Simon and James Gerstenzang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
April 30, 2008

WASHINGTON -- Rising anxiety over the economy, especially soaring gasoline and food prices, is forcing politicians from Capitol Hill to the White House to the campaign trail to scramble for a response.

President Bush on Tuesday sought to assure Americans that he was aware of the problems they faced in paying bills but said there was "no magic wand" he could wave to bring down energy costs.

Congressional Democrats and Republicans rushed to draft new energy proposals -- and dust off old ones -- in order to shield themselves from blame for high gas prices, while plotting strategy for what will be months of positioning on the issue.

The ideas being offered -- including Bush's renewed call for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling and Democrats' demands for investigations of the oil industry and a windfall profits tax -- have been debated for years. Even if approved, they would provide little immediate relief.

But politicians have grown increasingly jittery as pump prices hit a record high Tuesday -- a national average of about $3.61 a gallon for self-serve regular, up from $2.95 a year ago, according to AAA -- and oil companies reported big profits this week.

The high gas prices have come amid a declining job market, a housing crisis and rising grocery prices that are being felt in all regions of the country.
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