Cassidy: Gas prices ‘ridiculously high’

Published 3:17 pm Wednesday, July 13, 2022

By Sudan Britton

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, said gas prices are “ridiculously high” and he believes that is a direct result of the Biden administration’s “assault on North America’s energy production.”

Cassidy, in a teleconference on Tuesday, said gas prices in Louisiana are about $4.22 a gallon while the national average is $4.69 a gallon.

“The U.S. has the best environmental standards in the world when it comes to producing natural gas and oil,” Cassidy said. “But the Biden administration’s war on North American energy has left us with a higher price to pay at the pump than we should.”

Cassidy said to lower gas prices, refineries need to be able to increase their oil supplies.

“We need Operation Warp Speed to lower the price at the pump,” Cassidy said.

The senator said President Joe Biden is getting heat from both Democrats and Republicans over his planned meeting this week with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salma in which he is expected to ask for more oil. Cassidy said the move essentially shows Biden turning his back on domestic industry production.

He said Biden should not have to beg others to produce more oil when the U.S. can produce more energy itself.

Cassidy said refineries were shut down or repurposed by the Biden administration and he is struck by Biden’s move to allow other countries to produce oil that America could on its own.

“Wouldn’t it be great if President Biden lived like real people,” Cassidy asked. “He needs to listen to the challenges Americans are facing and provide realistic solutions.”

Roe v. Wade

Cassidy expressed his disappointment with the New Orleans Police Department’s announcement that officers will not make arrests “or otherwise enforce violations related to state laws prohibiting abortion.”

The announcement comes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The state of Louisiana has now banned most abortions following a ruling that lifted a

temporary restraining order that allowed three abortion clinics in the state to reopen.

Last week, the New Orleans City Council voted 6-0 to approve a resolution asking city police, sheriff deputies, prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies not to use municipal funds to enforce the state’s abortion ban.

“The city of New Orleans recognizes that reproductive rights are human rights and embraces the tenets of equality, dignity, autonomy, access to critical health care information, bodily integrity and respect for private life with the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual and reproductive health, without discrimination, as well as the right to freedom from cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” the resolution read.

Cassidy disagreed with the decision.

“We don’t get to choose what law we want to apply and which law we do not. Its the role of government officials to enforce laws as written,” he said.