Several weeks ago, I wrote to Congressman Simpson as to "Does the governor have the power to make a gas pump freeze"? To this he replied with the same rhetoric that we are dependant on foreign oil and that we need to change. He also states that "the United States imports more than 60 percent of its petroleum needs." To this reply, I informed him he dodged the question. "Does the governor have the power to invoke a gas pump freeze?"
I informed him that I remember years ago that I use to travel between Idaho and Texas going through the oil fields. What did I see? The oil pumps sitting idle, not pumping a drop. Being the curious type, I asked an oil operator at a gas station why the pumps where not pumping. He said, "Think about it. If we turn on the pumps, we would overload the oil supply and the price of oil would drop. Therefore, if we do not pump, it drives the price up."
Congressman Simpson stated in his letter that he is chair of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for public lands and offshore oil production. Then he should be aware that according to a news update on March 29, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar stated that "in the Gulf of Mexico, two-thirds of offshore leases are sitting idle." Why? Sounds like the oil pumps in Texas years ago.
Simply stated, Congress needs to stop dodging the questions and start acting. This letter is not so much to drag Congressman Simpson over the coals, as he did reply, whereas I wrote to the governor a month ago and have not yet received a reply. What is ironic is that I voted for Congressman Simpson and the governor.
Kevin S. McMullin
Hailey
