at last someone asks a pertinent question

Bush asked to explain why he won't release heatoil

By Tom Doggett
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts asked the Bush administration on Friday to explain why it will not tap the government's emergency heating oil stockpile, even though federal law allowed it do so this week after heating fuel prices reached high levels.
For the first time ever, the U.S. Northeast experienced sustained high heating oil costs long enough to hit the price trigger that gives President George W. Bush the option to release supplies from the 2-million-barrel heating oil reserve. The White House declined to use the reserve for the moment.
"If you choose nevertheless not to release home heating oil from the reserve, I respectfully request an explanation of the reasons why the administration has chosen not to provide relief to consumers in the Northeast," Markey said in a letter to Bush.
The Energy Department said on Thursday that heating oil supplies were adequate and it would not recommend that the president order a release of heating fuel from the stockpile.
In his letter, Markey pointed out that Bush strongly supported legislation that was approved by the House of Representatives last week that promotes building new oil refineries.
"The consumers of that oil are now asking whether you intend to use your emergency power to protect families facing soaring heating oil prices in the Northeast," Markey said.
The Energy Department forecast this week that average heating oil bills in the Northeast will rise 30 percent this winter to $1,607 compared to last year.
If the weather turns much colder than expected, average heating oil expenses in the region could jump 56 percent to $1,929, the department said.
The average heating oil price in the Northeast actually fell six cents over the last week to $2.57 a gallon. But that is still much higher from the region's $1.89 price a year ago.
"While we know that high heating oil prices put a strain on family budgets, there are no indications of any consumer being unable to obtain heating oil," an Energy Department spokesman said on Thursday. ...............