Energy Secretary rejects releasing government oil

WASHINGTON (AP) - Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman is rejecting a call by some members of Congress to release oil from the government's emergency stockpile. Bodman told a House hearing that oil is needed to respond to future supply emergencies and not to influence prices. He also says he does not believe that rampant market speculation is causing record high oil prices. The high prices have helped force gasoline to $4 a gallon and are increasing other costs. Bodman says it's a matter of supply and demand that can be traced to essentially flat global production over the last three years. Massachusetts Congressman Edward Markey says the release of government oil is justified because the country is "in an economic crisis."

-Perhaps if congress and the senate would allow us to explore and drill here in the United States WHILE looking into alternative forms of fuel both sides could win? Instead, both sides are butting heads over the same issue. One side is worried about preservation and alternative corn based fuel, the other, wanting to explore the abundant supply of oil here. I mean why not drill here while we are looking at alternative sources? At least that way we would be less dependant on OPEC, who wants us all dead, and prices would lower providing the economy with an almost instant relief, and at the same time Al Gore would get his corn fuel. -
M.