With gasoline prices soaring to $3.14 per gallon in North Carolina heading into Memorial Day weekend, NCDP Chair Jerry Meek called today on Republicans in Washington to help ease the pain at the pump for North Carolina’s families. [Source: AAA Fuel Gauge Report, http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp]

Yesterday in the House of Representatives, Democrats led the charge to pass the Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act of 2007 by a mostly party line vote of 284-141, defying a veto threat from President Bush. The bill would protect Americans from being gouged at the pump and set America on a path toward lower gas prices by imposing tough new measures to investigate and punish those who are artificially inflating the price of gasoline.

The Bush Administration's veto threat and the fact that most Republicans, including Patrick McHenry and Virginia Foxx, voted against the bill shows that the Republican Party remains beholden to Big Oil.

"I commend North Carolina's Democrats in Congress who showed political will and tenacity in the face of veto threats to pass a bill that puts American families first," said NCDP Chair Jerry Meek.

"Republicans like Patrick McHenry and Virginia Foxx should apologize for failing to join Democrats to pass the anti-price gouging bill yesterday, and owe it to North Carolinians to hold the Bush Administration accountable and help lower gas prices,” Meek said.

“Our Democrats in Congress are keeping their promises and helping make America energy independent,” Meek said. “That's what North Carolinians voted for, and that's what they're getting.”