FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2008CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384 Hurricane Ike Stokes Gas Price Gouging Fears John McCain Sided with Bush, Big Oil to Oppose Price Gouging Protections for Consumers Washington, D.C.—Despite falling oil prices, gas prices have jumped in thewake of Hurricane Ike. As many Texas refineries remain shutdown, gasolineprices on the spot market have jumped more than $1.50 a gallon and worriesabout price gouging along the Gulf Coast and in other areas have emerged.Yet, even after the serious problems following Hurricane Katrina in 2005,John McCain voted AGAINST protecting consumers from price gouging duringenergy emergencies. And just this summer as gas prices skyrocketed, JohnMcCain continued to oppose legislation that included price gougingprovisions. It comes as no surprise that McCain would join President Bush and Big Oilin opposing these measures. He's also filled his campaign with lobbyistswho've been paid millions of dollars by Big Oil and its front group, theAmerican Petroleum Institute, to oppose protections for consumers, blockclean energy, and stop efforts to repeal billions in government giveawaysto the oil industry. Statement of Cathy Duvall, Sierra Club National Political Director "Just two months after the turmoil and dramatic spike in gas prices causedby Hurricane Katrina, John McCain voted against protecting consumers fromprice gouging during energy emergencies. If that wasn't outrageous enough,when gas prices skyrocketed this summer, John McCain sided with Big Oil andWall Street speculators by opposing legislation that would've protectedconsumers and cracked downed on the rampant speculation that independentexperts now blame for the run up in oil prices. This is just one moretroubling example of McCain siding with President Bush and Big Oil insteadof American consumers. "It should come as no surprise that John McCain sides with Big Oil on thisissue and so many more. John McCain and the Republican National Committeehave received millions in campaign cash from Big Oil and the lobbyistsrunning his campaign and planning his administration have been paidmillions by the oil industry in order to oppose price gouging protections,clean energy legislation, and other measures to free us from Big Oil'schokehold. "John McCain should be ashamed of himself for promoting billions ingovernment giveaways to Big Oil while voting against protecting consumersfrom price gouging at the pump. John McCain: right for price-gougers,wrong for America." John McCain voted AGAINST protecting consumers from price gouging during energy emergencies. (2005 Roll Call Vote #334) John McCain strongly OPPOSES a bill that would protect consumers from price gouging, crack down on speculators, repeal billions in government giveaways to Big Oil, and invest in renewable energy (S.2991, Consumer-First Act). John McCain's campaign is full of more than two-dozen Big Oil lobbyists, chief among them Nancy Pfotenhauer (Sr. Advisor), Wayne Berman (Finance Co-Chair), John Green (Capitol Hill liaison), and William Timmons (leader of the transition team). Berman and Green both were lobbyists for Chevron, Hess, and the American Petroleum Institute. They both specifically lobbied against the Price Gouging Prevention Act. Senate records show that from 2002-08, Berman brought in $1.1 million from API and Green brought in an additional $1.4 million. # # # Paid for by the Sierra Club Political Committee, http://www.sierraclub.org/, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask] Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp