‘Midland over Moscow.’ Texas politicians, pundits drill Biden on surging gas prices
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a massive surge in gas prices here at home and politicians and pundits are trying to pin the blame on President Joe Biden.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, from Houston, ridiculed Biden for declining to meet with oil companies while the president was in Fort Worth on Tuesday.
“Joe Biden is in Texas today, and yet he won’t be meeting with energy producers to find out what’s needed to increase production, reduce prices, and reduce dependence on foreign oil,” Crenshaw posted on Twitter. “This White House would rather meet with Venezuela and Iran instead.”
Biden, with the support of both parties, banned Russian oil, natural gas and coal imports as a strategic economic move to hurt Russia’s ability to wage an unprovoked war in Ukraine.
Many Republicans who support the ban are also calling on Biden to allow Texas to produce more gas to offset the shortfall.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also hammered Biden for not allowing the state’s oil companies to increase production to help reduce the prices at the pump, which have passed $4 in Texas and are nearing $6 in California.
“Instead of begging other countries for oil, Biden can stop hindering the U.S. energy sector,” Abbott said in a Twitter post. “Texas can easily produce enough oil to reduce gas prices if his Administration would get out of the way. Don’t make us dependent on foreign sources of energy.”
Abbott replied to a Twitter post promoting oil production in Texas’ Permian Basin. “Midland over Moscow. You got that right,” Abbott replied.
Aaron Sorrells, a Republican candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor, echoed the sentiment.
“How about America? Texas could be supplying our oil and stop this gas problem,” he posted. “How many Americans will be severely hurting and have to choose gas over food to keep their job because we won’t handle and mind our own business?”
This story was originally published March 8, 2022 at 4:54 PM.
