After remarks on the authorization of Covid-19 vaccines for children under 5 years old, Biden was asked about a letter from the CEO of Chevron, which accused the President of seeking to vilify oil and gas producers as Americans struggle to fill their tanks and the White House faces increasing political pressure.
Biden responded: “He’s mildly sensitive,” adding: “I didn’t know they’d get their feelings hurt that quickly.”
Biden has made Russia’s war in Ukraine his top scapegoat for climbing gas prices but has also called out oil and gas companies, saying they aren’t doing enough to bring down costs and accusing them of profiting off the war. He repeated some of those arguments on Tuesday, saying the country needs “more refining capacity.”
“This idea that they don’t have oil to drill and to bring up is simply not true,” he said. “This piece of the Republicans talking about ‘Biden shut down fields,’ wrong. We ought to be able to work something out whereby they’re able to increase refining capacity and still not give up on transitioning to renewable energy. They’re both within realm of possibility.”
In response to the President’s criticisms, the oil industry has largely said that it is the Biden administration’s fault that prices are so high because of what they perceive as limits on domestic oil and gas production.
“Your Administration has largely sought to criticize, and at times vilify, our industry,” Worth wrote in an open letter to Biden. “These actions are not beneficial to meeting the challenges we face and are not what the American people deserve.”
Worth argued the industry needs “cooperation and support from your Administration for our country to return to a path toward greater energy security, economic prosperity, and environmental protection.”
The Energy Department invited representatives from Marathon Petroleum, Valero Energy, ExxonMobil, Phillips 66, Chevron, BP and Shell to discuss high gas prices. Granholm said Sunday on CNN that the group would talk about the refining capacity in the country.
Biden expected to back national gas tax holiday
Biden’s decision to throw his administration’s support behind a national gas tax holiday — which would require congressional action — provides new life to an issue that has failed to gain traction on Capitol Hill up to this point.
White House officials had been weighing support for the proposal, which would pause the 18.3-cents-per-gallon tax on gas. But hurdles on Capitol Hill, including a cool reception from key Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and concerns about the policy effect of the move largely shifted the idea to the background over the last several months.
As gas prices continue to rise, however, administration officials have scrambled to find policy options that would address the pain at the pump — or demonstrate support for action.
Biden, speaking to reporters on Tuesday, appeared to lean toward the idea when he noted a pause in the gas tax would have only a minor impact on funding for roads – a key policy concern.
“It…
Read More: Biden expected to back federal gas tax holiday as he ramps up criticism of oil