New RNC Web Ad Fails to Admit Bush Failures

Democratic National Committee Communications Director Karen Finney issued the following statement on the RNC's latest misleading web advertisement:

"The party led by oilmen has failed to do anything to lower gas prices, and now they are once again misleading the American people with a pathetic attempt to distort the facts. When they had the chance to ensure America's energy independence, they chose instead to reward the energy companies and when they had the chance to offer some relief at the pump for Americans, they choose instead to reward their friends in big oil. The truth is that under Bush, gas prices have increased by 97 percent. The Bush Administration's 2003 energy plan even increased prices by 3 cents a gallon. Those are the facts."

HERE'S WHAT THE RNC AD DOESN'T SAY:

Since Bush's 1st Inauguration, Gas Prices Have Risen by $1.42, a 97% Increase. According to the Energy Information Administration, the price of regular, unleaded, gasoline has risen by $1.42, or 97 percent, since Bush's 1st inauguration. On January 15, 2001 just before Bushs first inauguration the average price of gasoline was $1.46 a gallon. As of May 23, 2006, the average price of gasoline is $2.88 a gallon. [Energy Information Administration, www.eia.doe.gov AAA Fuel Gauge Report]

Bush's Own Energy Information Administration Found the Bush Plan Pushes Prices Higher. A February 2004 analysis by the Energy Information Administration of the 2003 compromise energy bill - nearly identical to the current bill - found that the bill would increase gas prices by three cents a gallon. Each one cent increase in gas prices costs consumers nationwide $1 billion each year. [EIA, Summary Impacts of Modeled Provisions of the 2003 Conference Energy Bill, 2/2004; Reuters, 3/30/04]

• Former Tom DeLay Aide Admits Republican Energy Bill Will Not Solve Gas Price Problem; Only Gives Appearance of Doing Something. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Politically, it doesn't matter if such provisions deal with the long term, said Stuart Roy, Republican strategist and former aide to House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. 'The most important thing for policy makers in the current environment of relatively high gas prices and the approaching summer travel months is action.'" [LA Times, 4/16/05]
  
  
• Republican Energy Bill Gave At Least $10 Billion Away Over $10 Years in Tax Breaks To Big Oil Companies. [House Democratic Leader, 4/06]

Oil and Gas Industry Contributed Nearly $67 Million to Republicans Since 2000. The oil and gas industry has contributed over $66.7 million to the RNC, NRCC, NSCC, and Republican candidates since the 2000 election cycle. The oil and gas industry contributed more than $20 million to Republicans in the 2004 cycle alone - four times more than oil money donated to Democrats. In 2004, Exxon alone gave $831,941 to Republicans. [Center for Responsive Politics]

The Oil and Gas Industry Is One of Bush's Largest Career Donors. The oil and gas industry ranked 12th among career contributions to George W. Bush. In 2000, the oil and gas industry ranked 8th in the top industry contributions. In 2004, the oil and gas industry ranked 15th in the top industry contributions. [Center for Responsive Politics]