by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio

July 4, 2008

As Minnesota politicians head to 4th of July parades, they're likely to get an earful from voters on high gas prices. Rising energy costs are a key issue this campaign season, and candidates are offering their ideas on how to ease the pain at the pump. But one expert says most politicians are proposing piece-meal solutions that won't fix the problem.

St. Paul, Minn. — As the cost of gas hovers around $4 a gallon, politicians of all stripes know that many voters are demanding solutions. And as drivers fill up, the candidates are hoping to remind them that they're working on both short and long term fixes.

"The reason why we're here today in front of Sinclair gas station is to highlight the grief that Minnesotans are going through right now regarding the high price of gasoline," GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann said last month.

"We need to make sure that people aren't manipulating the market. We need to go after price fixers, energy market speculators, price gougers and others who are driving the prices higher," said U.S. Congress 2nd district DFL candidate Steve Sarvi earlier this week.

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See Sarvi for Congress press release and position statement