SAINT PAUL [07/30/08] – This morning, Senator Richard Durbin (D – Ill.) called on President Bush to release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). DFL-endorsed Senate candidate Al Franken called on Senator Norm Coleman (R – Big Oil) to back the proposal immediately, releasing the following statement:

“Senator Durbin is exactly right: releasing oil from the SPR will have an immediate and significant impact on the market. It’s real relief for Minnesotans paying four dollars a gallon at the pump. Now it’s time for Norm Coleman to make a choice: Will he continue to stand with George W. Bush and Big Oil, or will he stand with Minnesotans for once by joining this call to lower gas prices?”

On Monday, Franken officially announced his plan to lower gas prices including demanding that the President release 50 million barrels of oil from the SPR within the next 100 days – thereby increasing supply, lowering prices to consumers, and generating at least $5 billion in revenue.

Durbin Called On President Bush To Release Oil From The Strategic Petroleum Reserve. In speech on the Senate floor today, Senator Richard Durbin (IL) said, “There’s something that can be done immediately though, and it’s something this President can do and he doesn’t have to wait on Congress and he ought to do it today. President Bush should announce that he is going to start selling off oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, to bring the price of a barrel of oil down to $100 a barrel. That’s our target price for America. That will turn this economy on. That will give the airlines a chance. That’ll put the truckers back to work. That’ll give the farmers a break. And the president can do it without any Congressional approval.” [Durbin Floor Speech, 7/30/08]

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