In Alabama, the average price of unleaded gasoline is $4.31 a gallon, according to AAA. While that is lower than the $4.59 a gallon national average, it is much higher than Alabamians are accustomed to.
During an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) argued the pain at the pump was "manufactured on purpose."
Rogers, who is also the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, said the increase in gas prices was a product of the Biden administration's desire to expedite the national marketplace from gas-power vehicles to electric vehicles.
He called the approach by the Biden administration "malfeasance."
"I firmly believe this is manufactured on purpose," Rogers said. "And it's being driven by the far-left, which seems to own Joe Biden. Before he became president, [Biden] was much more moderate, but this is the Obama people that are around him, and they are very far left when it comes to energy and what they want to force this country to do as far as moving away from fossil fuels. Listen, I'm fine with moving to electric vehicles. But it needs to happen organically and naturally. We don't need to be putting the American people in this terrible economic pain while we make the transition.
"I mean, you talk to the auto industry, and they will tell you 10 or 12 years from now, you won't be able to buy a gasoline-powered automobile on the commercial market. They'll all be EVs then. But that doesn't mean we will get rid of all the gasoline-powered vehicles for at least 20 or 25 years because they'll go through their natural life. Refined oil is going to be a part of our life for decades as we make this transition. And I just think it's malfeasance on the part of the administration to be trying to force this to go faster with these artificially enhanced prices that they're causing by the lack of drilling."
Rogers said he finds it obnoxious for the president to go to the Middle East and ask Saudi Arabia and other countries to increase their drilling to give the U.S. price relief. He said if Biden was really worried about the environment he would want the U.S. to do the drilling because "we would do it more cleanly, and therefore Biden is being hypocritical."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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