National Journal
Summer Drivers Get Some Relief, But Not From Gas-Price Politics
By Coral Davenport, May 24, 2012
Memorial Day weekend usually heralds an annual surge in gasoline prices, as American drivers hit the road and oil refiners switch to a cleaner but pricier summer fuel blend. And in an election year, rising prices usually means heightened political rhetoric about energy, drilling, and the role of big oil.
But this summer is kicking off with a drop in gas prices for a change. After prices at the pump hit record seasonal highs this spring, shooting from an average of $3.38 for a gallon of regular in January to $3.90 in April, they’ve slid to an average of $3.81 for May and are projected to keep falling for the rest of the year, down to around $3.62 by November, according to the Energy Information Administration.
The price surge ignited a huge springtime fight over energy: Republicans pounced as polls showed that Americans largely blamed President Obama for the increase.
Republican presidential and congressional candidates launched aggressive attacks linking Obama to high gas prices. House Republicans crafted a slew of bills to expand oil and gas drilling, which they’d planned to bring to the floor in the first week of June, to coincide with the expected annual price hike.
