Gasoline prices in Iowa bounded 17-cents in the past month and forecasts indicate heating oil will cost twice as much this winter compared to last year. Iowa Senator Tom Harkin says action needs to be taken on the two fuel issues.Harkin, a democrat, is calling on President Clinton to release supplies from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and to release emergency funds from the Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program to help the poor and elderly heat their houses.Senator Harkin is urging his colleagues in Congress to approve legislation to release stockpiles from the Home Heating Oil Reserve and to make that temporary stockpile a permanent fixture.After 72 months and 52-million dollars, the independent counsel has closed the book on the “Whitewater” investigation. Senator Harkin says he’s not surprised the conclusion found no evidence to show criminal wrongdoing on behalf of President or Mrs. Clinton.Harkin says the investigation should not have taken so long and cost the taxpayers so much.The probe focused on the Clintons’ Arkansas business dealings during the 1970s and ’80s.
