Sen. Jeff Bingaman called on President Obama this week to be ready to tap the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to surging oil and retail gasoline prices. High gas prices alone aren't enough to justify tapping the reserve, but announcing a sale from the reserve would help moderate prices, said Bingaman, chairman of the Senate Resources and Energy Committee.
The president should "be ready to consider a release of oil from our Strategic Petroleum Reserve if the situation in the Libya deteriorates further," Bingaman, D-N.M., said in a Senate floor speech Wednesday. Gasoline has climbed more than 29 cents per gallon since the uprising in Libya began in the middle of February, costing Americans an extra $108 million per day to buy the same amount of fuel. Albuquerqueans are paying an average of $3.32 a gallon at the pump - a 17-cent hike in one week.
"Between the lost production in Libya, the crude-oil dislocation associated with additional Saudi production, and the prospect of further turmoil in the region, we are now unquestionably facing a physical oil supply disruption that is at risk of getting worse before it gets better," Bingaman said. Other lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also urged Obama to tap into the reserve.
The administration said Wednesday it is "confident that the global system has the capacity to deal with major disruptions in oil supply." A spokesman would not address whether Obama was considering options such as opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. National pump prices jumped another 4 cents Thursday to a new national average of $3.43 per gallon, according to AAA, Wright Express and Oil Price Information Service.
New Mexico drivers on average are forking over $3.38 for a gallon of unleaded regular. The 18-cent hike in one week represents the biggest one-week increase since September 2005, AAA New Mexico reported Thursday. Albuquerque has the least expensive gasoline in the state at $3.32 a gallon; still, that's a jump of 17 cents. Motorists in Las Cruces are paying the most at $3.36, up 21 cents in a week. The most expensive gas is in Hawaii at $3.82. The lowest in the country is in Montana and Wyoming at $3.12.
"Depending on the city they're driving in, motorists are now paying at least $10 more per fill-up than they were a year ago," said AAA New Mexico spokesman Dan Ronan. "As was the case in 2008, this pocket book issue will likely mean drivers will make changes in the number of trips they take, consolidating them and being more careful about how they drive." Analyst and trader Stephen Schork said gasoline could rise another 32 cents per gallon this spring, peaking as high as $3.80 by summer. Flying is getting more expensive as well. Jet fuel prices have risen about 13 percent in two weeks and are now up 46 percent from a year ago. In turn, U.S. airlines have raised fares six times this year. Last month, they tacked fuel surcharges of $3 to $5 on domestic tickets, something they hadn't done since 2008.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Are gas prices so high that we need to start thinking about this? Do you find it strange that situations occuring in other countries like Libya, can affect our daily lives?
-Noriega
Friday, March 4, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Homework Blog #4
Albuquerque’s top cop is laying down the law when it comes to his officers' behavior and postings on online social networks. Albuquerque Police Department Chief Ray Schultz sent his department a memo Thursday regarding an impending Facebook and other social networking policy. APD officers may soon have to watch what they post on online.“You say it, you own it. You’re going to be held accountable for it,” Schultz said.
There’s been a lot of attention on social media since APD gang unit officer Trey Economidy was found describing his job as “human waste disposal” on Facebook. Schultz said a new policy will be in place in the next few days.“In law enforcement you kind of live under a microscope, and when you make comments that could adversely affect your ability to testify in court is where you cross the line,” Schultz said.
Action 7 News obtained a copy of the memo that Schultz sent to the whole department. It basically states that officers who identify themselves as APD online are representing the department. Schultz also cautioned officers that speech made regarding their official duties is not protected under First Amendment rights and could result in discipline. Police union president Joey Sigala hasn’t read the memo yet, but said he worries a social media policy could be in violation of the First Amendment. “And if it comes down to it, when I read the policy, we’re going to have major heartburn and heartache over it and we’ll address it as need be,” Sigala said.
What are your thoughts on public officials having to watch what they say on these social networks? Do you think that they should be able to say whatever they want or should they continue to display a positive image on these public forums? Do you believe that this is censorship and a direct violation of the first amendment rights of these individuals? Think about other public officials who have done similar things like NY Rep. Chris Lee and infamous Craigslist photos. Respond in a short paragraph. Have a great weekend!
-Noriega
There’s been a lot of attention on social media since APD gang unit officer Trey Economidy was found describing his job as “human waste disposal” on Facebook. Schultz said a new policy will be in place in the next few days.“In law enforcement you kind of live under a microscope, and when you make comments that could adversely affect your ability to testify in court is where you cross the line,” Schultz said.
Action 7 News obtained a copy of the memo that Schultz sent to the whole department. It basically states that officers who identify themselves as APD online are representing the department. Schultz also cautioned officers that speech made regarding their official duties is not protected under First Amendment rights and could result in discipline. Police union president Joey Sigala hasn’t read the memo yet, but said he worries a social media policy could be in violation of the First Amendment. “And if it comes down to it, when I read the policy, we’re going to have major heartburn and heartache over it and we’ll address it as need be,” Sigala said.
What are your thoughts on public officials having to watch what they say on these social networks? Do you think that they should be able to say whatever they want or should they continue to display a positive image on these public forums? Do you believe that this is censorship and a direct violation of the first amendment rights of these individuals? Think about other public officials who have done similar things like NY Rep. Chris Lee and infamous Craigslist photos. Respond in a short paragraph. Have a great weekend!
-Noriega
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