Amid surging gas prices and 40-year-high inflation, a congressman Thursday reacted to the news that the Biden administration has canceled domestic oil and gas lease sales.
“Biden just canceled massive oil and gas lease sales in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico amid historic gas prices. Just wait for him to blame Putin for all of this!” Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) said on Twitter.
Biden just canceled massive oil and gas lease sales in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico amid historic gas prices.
Just wait for him to blame Putin for all of this!
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) May 12, 2022
According to one report, the Department of Interior cited “lack of industry interest in leasing in the area” as the reasoning behind the cancellation of the Cook Inlet, Alaska, lease sale.
In the Gulf of Mexico, where another lease sale was canceled, the department said there were “conflicting court rulings that impacted work on these proposed lease sales.”
Biden’s administration has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for rising prices for gas, food and household goods.
“Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices and food prices all over the world,” Biden said in April. “So everything is going up. We saw it in today’s inflation data. Seventy percent of the increase in prices in March came from Putin’s price hike in gasoline.”
Biden changed tunes earlier this week, blaming Republicans for skyrocketing prices instead.
Biggs’ office did not return a Thursday request for further comment.
But Biggs’ Arizonan colleague, Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) shared a similar sentiment.
“As gas prices continue to hit all-time highs, President Biden has canceled oil and gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. This is insanity!” she said.
🚨 As gas prices continue to hit all-time highs, President Biden has canceled oil and gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. This is insanity! https://t.co/1XJRurEdIR
— Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (@RepDLesko) May 12, 2022
Meanwhile, gas prices in Arizona reached a record high Thursday, averaging $4.70 per gallon of gas, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
That number represents an 11-cent increase in prices at the pump over the past week, and a $1.58 increase in prices at the pump over the past year.
_ _ _
Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at the Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Andy Biggs” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Photo “Debbie Lesko” by Debbie Lesko.
