Washington, D.C.– U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor Thursday regarding rising gas prices and the effort by Senate Democrats to raise taxes on American energy manufacturers:

“I just have one question before this morning’s vote, one simple question. Is this really the best we can do?

“Is this the best we have to offer folks who are staring at $4 a gallon gasoline?  A bill that even Democrats admit won’t do anything to lower the price of gas? And a process that blocks any other idea from even coming to the floor for a vote?

“Does anybody think the Senate’s really done its job on this issue?

“Well, if you don’t — if you think we think we should do more for the American people at a time when they’re paying $4 dollar a gallon for gasoline than raise taxes on energy manufacturers and block a pipeline from Canada, then you should vote against cloture.

“You should stand with Republicans and insist we do more to lower gas prices in this country.

“I see the President made a statement a little while ago in support of this proposed tax hike. My question is: where was the White House when Democrats voted to get off of it?

“Maybe they were too busy lining up votes against the Keystone pipeline. Maybe the President was too busy telling the Russians about how he’s hoping for more flexibility.

“My point is that Democrats don’t have to take orders from the White House. They don’t need to serve the President’s political strategy. They can do what their constituents want them to do on this issue. They can vote to stay on this bill and fight for real solutions to the problem of high gas prices. And any other number of issues that Democrats refuse to face for that matter.

“We can use this institution to actually make a difference. And at some point I hope that’s what my colleagues on the other side decide to do.”