Bee wrestles Giffords over oil prices

Arizona Senate President Tim Bee (R-Tucson) feels citizens' pain at the pump - and blames the Democrats. Specifically, he blames Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-8), who he is running to unseat in November.

"In 2006 when Democrats took over Congress the price of gasoline per gallon was $2.19, consumer confidence was at a 2 ½ year high and the unemployment rate at 4.5%," read a fundraising pitch put out by the Bee campaign today.

"Since Democrats gained control the price of a gallon of gas has risen to over $3.50 and with it, higher costs for groceries, heating and cooling, eating out and daily activities. Consumer confidence has plummeted, and unemployment is on the rise. Add to the mix a mortgage crisis and you realize the change the voters of this district got was not what they expected."

It goes on to say that citizens "deserve better than short-term expensive solutions without a realistic long-term energy plan that makes us truly energy independent - now!"

When asked if the Democratic Congress, which was convened only 15 months ago, is to blame for the poor economic conditions the country is entering, Tom Dunn, Bee's campaign spokesman, said it was.

"Congress has been ineffective," said Dunn. "People in Sen. Bee's district are hurting. They're feeling the effects of high gas and food prices. These are challenges Congress has not addressed.

"[Democrats] have the numbers," he continued, "and they haven't presented anything to the president."

Asked how Bee would confront these problems, Dunn declined to give specifics, other than saying Bee would "work to create bipartisan legislation to improve economic conditions."

State Sen. Bee is "in the process of formulating" his economic policies, said Dunn.

"So what is their plan?" said C.J. Karamargin, Rep. Giffords's spokesman. 

According to Karamargin, "It sounds like they're reaching for an issue."

In contrast to Bee, said Karamargin, Giffords and another 100 of her colleagues in both parties have proposed stopping delivery of oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which proponents say would free up around 70,000 barrels of oil per day. Karamargin called this a "concrete proposal made by Democrats and Republicans that gets beyond these mindless criticisms.

"It's curious," he added, "they chose to say what the price of gasoline was in 2006, when Congress was sworn in in January 2007. They didn't mention was the price of gas was in January 2001 when President Bush took office."

For the record, it was $1.47.