Congressman calls for action against OPEC to lower gas prices

Gasoline prices are again skyrocketing in Iowa and nationwide, hitting all time highs, exceeding peaks from earlier in the year. Iowa Congressman Tom Latham says consumers are taking a beating and he feels it’s -again- time to rethink the hundreds of millions of dollars Uncle Sam shells out to OPEC nations. He believes the effort to clamp down on the aid will be renewed.The D-N-R reports statewide gas price averages monthly — and the May average was a dollar-43 a gallon. Prices across much of the state are much higher now though, with many areas into the one-60 a gallon range. Latham, a republican, blames the Clinton White House, saying “we have an administration that quite honestly has no energy policy.” Latham also slams the U-S Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, saying Richardson doesn’t have an energy policy either.A federally-mandated fuel tax designed to help clean up the air has pushed gas prices above the two-dollar-a-gallon mark at several midwestern locations — including Chicago and Milwaukee.