According to federal statistics, gasoline prices went up more than 75 percent last year and more than 8.5 percent in December.
Energy costs have a profound impact on the economy.
The dramatic increases could lead to inflation, business losses and layoffs. The trucking industry is especially hard hit. We need to act now. That's why we are asking the government to release some of the 560 million barrels of oil from our petroleum reserve. We feel this will have the most immediate and beneficial effect.