Reps. Kehrl, Hopgood, Polidori, Vagnozzi, Plakas, Accavitti, Anderson, Bieda, Booher, Brown, Byrnes, Byrum, Condino, Cushingberry, Farrah, Gillard, Gonzales, Gosselin, Kolb, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, Miller, Sak, Alma Smith, Spade, Stewart, Tobocman, Waters and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 128.

            A resolution to memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to protect American consumers from exorbitant prices of gasoline. 

            Whereas, Michigan drivers are stunned by the rapid increases in gasoline prices. Service station employees often make daily trips up their ladders to post record-breaking increases in gasoline prices.  Recently, Michigan's statewide average on regular unleaded gasoline has exceeded $3.00 per gallon.  This price is more than a dollar higher than the same time last year; and

            Whereas, A number of factors both close to home and global in nature have combined to create our current predicament.  Oil industry observers point to a number of factors causing prices to skyrocket, from increased global demand and lower supplies to refinery closings and poor decisions by the oil industry executives; and

            Whereas, Compounded by the recent natural disaster, Hurricane Katrina, our national production and refinery capacity has diminished for the near future.  Petroleum analysts suggest that it could take many months before the damaged refineries in the nation's Gulf Coast region come back on line.  This delay will squeeze the motoring public even further because gasoline stockpiles are already severely limited; and

            Whereas, The widespread impact of the gasoline price increases makes it imperative for federal authorities to take action.  Individuals and businesses face painful changes if prices remain at these levels for long.  Families are already facing serious financial problems.  These financial crises will magnify across our state and nation unless prices return to more reasonable ranges and a lasting solution is found; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the President of the United States and the United States Congress to protect American consumers from exorbitant prices of gasoline; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.