Bush's record of no achievement. Except what he's done for his rich corporate pals.


# "When it comes to crafting consumer-friendly energy policies, George Bush has been an abject failure. But when it comes to crafting a policy that lines the pockets of big oil companies, he's been a smashing success. The fact is that while gas prices skyrocket and consumers get pinched, oil companies are raking in record profits. Meanwhile everyday Americans are struggling to deal with these record gas prices on top of their other family expenses. When is George Bush going to come up with a plan that helps these Americans cope with this crisis? America is waiting." (Kerry Spokesman Phil Singer)

# The retail price of gas went over $2 a gallon today for the first time ever, setting a new record on the same day as the three year anniversary of George Bush's failed energy plan.

# Bush's plan did nothing to end US reliance on foreign oil or lower the high gas prices that have plagued US drivers throughout his term.

# When George Bush came to the White House in 2001, gas cost about $1.51 per gallon. It now costs $2.02, an increase of about $.51 per gallon over the last year.

# The steep increase in gas prices since Bush took office forces the average household to pay $593 more for gas this year alone.

# BUSH'S PLAN FOR DEALING WITH HIGH GAS PRICES: "... the best way to make sure that people are able to deal with high energy prices is to cut taxes, is to give people more of their own money so they can meet the bills, so they can meet the high energy prices." [Bush Press Conference, 5/11/01]

# BUSH'S FAILURE TO REIN IN SKYROCKETING GAS PRICES HAS COST DRIVERS $42 BILLION THIS YEAR ALONE: Economists use a rule of thumb that a penny increase in a gallon of gas costs consumers $1 billion more a year. The 42 cent rise in gas prices in less than five months translates into a $42 billion tax on Americans this year alone. [WSJ, 3/24/04; EIA, http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/ftparea/wogirs/xls/pswrgvwall.xls]

# THREE YEARS AGO TODAY, BUSH UNVEILED AN ENERGY PLAN HE SAID WOULD REDUCE PUMP PRICES: Q: Mr. President, how will your plan lead to lower prices at the gas pump now? THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me? Q: How will it lead to lower prices at the gas pump now? THE PRESIDENT: Because we recognize that we need more supply. And when you read the report, you'll see that we've laid out constructive ways to make sure that there are more supply available. [Remarks by the President on National Energy Policy, 5/16/01]

# BUSH'S EIA FOUND THAT BUSH'S PLAN WOULDN'T IMPACT PRICES: Bush's own Energy Information Administration found that the effect of the proposal would be "negligible" with respect to production, consumption, imports, and energy prices. Just last week, the EIA reported that imported gasoline hit an all time high of 1.3 million barrels per day the week of April 16. [EIA, http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/twip.asp]

# THE PUBLIC'S GAS PAINS ARE PROFITS FOR BUSH'S OIL BUDDIES: US consumers might be getting pinched every time they fill up their cars, but George Bush's friends in the oil industry are raking in record profits. The top oil companies posted up to a 38% gain in profits, with Conoco Phillips making a record $1.62 billion in profit during the first three months of the year. [WSJ, 4/30/04; Reuters, 4/28/04; CNN Money, http://money.cnn.com/2004/05/14/markets/oil/index.htm, 5/14/04]





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