MNpublius.com

All of these are good reads:

Star Tribune: “To lower gas prices, Franken proposes selling oil from reserves”:

Franken said that he supports renewable energy but that oil prices have risen to a crisis level, warranting a release from the reserve. Previous sell-offs under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton lowered prices by as much as a third, he said.

MPR: “Franken outlines plan to cut energy costs”:

Franken is also calling for a crackdown on energy trading speculation in hopes of preventing investors from driving up the cost of fuel. Franken criticized Republican Sen. Norm Coleman for voting against an anti-speculation bill last week.

Coleman said he voted no on the measure, because it did not include a provision to open more areas to off-shore drilling. Franken opposes increasing off-shore leases.

Franken said oil companies should drill in the off-shore areas where they currently hold leases.

AP: “Franken Outlines Plan To Cut Energy Costs”:

Franken also hammered Republican Sen. Norm Coleman’s recent votes to sideline a bill that would outlaw oil futures speculation that some economists blame for rising energy prices.

The Senate Democrats’ bill stalled last week because they lacked sufficient votes to close off debate. The bill would require the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to set limits on trading in oil markets by investors and speculators as well as closing other trading loopholes.

“What he says here in Minnesota isn’t always what he does in Washington,” Franken said. “Norm Coleman could have used his vote to bring down gas prices for Minnesota families, but his vote belongs to George W. Bush and the special interests.”

ECM: “DFL U.S. Senate candidate Franken calls on President Bush to release 50 million barrels of oil”:

Besides faulting U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, R-St. Paul, on a recent vote — U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar needs someone she can work with, he opined — Franken charged that Coleman was “pandering” to the voters by implying that opening the outer continental shelf to oil and gas exploration would speedily impact gas prices.

“I think it’s pandering when you’re telling people that we’re going to bring down the price of gas at the pump by opening up the those leases,” said Franken. “It’s not,” he said.

Opening the outer shelf would not impact gas prices for years, opined Franken.

“Norm Coleman’s message to the people of Minnesota is hang around for 22 years,” he said.

UPDATE: KARE 11: “Franken outlines plan to cut energy costs”:

Franken, who spoke to reporters in front of gas pumps at a service station in Saint Paul, said prices fell 60 cents per gallon the last time President Bush released oil from the reserve after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

He also called for an immediate crackdown on oil commodities speculation in stock markets, and took incumbent Republican Norm Coleman to task for voting against such a measure last Friday in Washington.

“Amy Klobuchar voted for that bill,” Franken remarked, “Norm Coleman cancelled out her vote and blocked it, thus proving once again that what he says here in Minnesota isn’t always what he does in Washington.”