Thanks so much Congressman Hayes...
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Channel 9 contacted Congressman Robin Hayes and told him that local gas prices are jumping by the hour, now he is calling for a federal investigation.
U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, (R) N.C. District 8, said "There's no excuse for it. There's no rationale. There's no justification."
To paraphrase Winston Churchill, I could only have agreed more if my opponent had said gas prices are a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma to him.
After all, for a Representative who's taken $176,000 from the oil industry, owns $23 million in oil stocks and still thinks gas is $1.76 a gallon according to his own latest commercial, why should high gas prices and profiteer gouging be anything but MYSTIFYING?
Perhaps that's why Robin Hayes did the only sensible thing an out-of-touch, five-term incumbent with extensive ties to the oil industry could do. Sit down and pen a letter to the Federal Trade Commission.
"I have sent a letter to the FTC because they need to carefully look at this situation and identify any wrongdoing that may exist."
Imagine that.
Mr. Hayes, there's been plenty of "wrongdoing" that led to this undue hardship on working families, and you need look no further than your own actions and inactions in Congress.
In 2006, you failed to vote when your party killed a bill to give the FTC and the Justice Department authority to investigate and prosecute oil companies engaged in price gouging during a national emergency.
The motion to kill the Democratic attempt passed 224-193. [HRes 897, Vote #352, 6/29/06]
In 2005, you voted against a motion to grant new authority to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, enforce and then punish price gouging and market manipulation.
The bill failed 200-222. [HR3893, Vote #518, 10/07/05]
Also in 2005, you voted against an amendment to provide the Federal Trade Commission with new authority to investigate and prosecute those that engage in predatory pricing, from oil companies on down to gas stations, with the emphasis on those who profit the most. Mr. Hayes, you really should have thought about your constituents more than your stock portfolio. The measure increased funding for the low-income home energy assistance program through fines from price-gouging companies.
The amendment was defeated 199-222. [HR 3893, Vote #517, 10/07/05]
And just two weeks earlier, you voted against a motion to provide the Justice Department authority to prosecute oil companies engaged in gas price gouging and impose criminal penalties of up to $100 million on corporations, as well as up to $1 million in fines or 10 years in prison or both for individuals.
The motion was defeated 195-226. [HR 3402, Vote #500, 9/28/05]
Is any of this "wrongdoing" ringing a bell Congressman?
Remember after Hurricane Katrina, another national emergency with skyrocketing gas prices when you pledged an investigation on price gouging?
When contacted by the Charlotte Observer, you said you would take the Observer's findings to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, "to see what we can do to get these numbers down." [Charlotte Observer, 11/22/05]
It doesn't appear that voting to protect price gougers over the years quite did the trick, does it?
Mr. Hayes, the working families that have to deal with the high gas prices you profit from need a real Representative in Congress, because when it comes to your record, "There's no excuse for it. There's no rationale. There's no justification."
If you're sick and tired of Washington politicians that say one thing, then do another, I need you to join our campaign today. It's up to you.