PolitiFact.com
Statements about Gas Prices
Eric Hovde

Eric Hovde

Mostly False

Other factors play a much bigger role

"The failed economic policies" of President Barack Obama, the Democrats and the Federal Reserve "are making gas prices higher while America’s economy is running on fumes."

National Republican Congressional Committee

National Republican Congressional Committee

Mostly False

What about the price spike in 2008?

Gas prices have gone up 99 percent since Obama became president, "the highest gas price increase since Carter."

Bill Nelson

Bill Nelson

Half-True

Depends on how you define 'speculators'

At the same time gas prices have increased, "the share of the oil market controlled by speculators has more than doubled over the past 10 years."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

True

The miles would encircle equator

In the past three years, "we've added enough new oil and gas pipeline to circle the Earth and then some."

American Energy Alliance

American Energy Alliance

False

Solyndra, Alaska, Keystone pushing up today's prices? No.

Gas prices have doubled because "Obama opposed exploring for energy in Alaska. He gave millions of tax dollars to Solyndra, which then went bankrupt. And he blocked the Keystone pipeline. So we will all pay more at the pump."

Mike Dovilla

Mike Dovilla

False

Immediately inaccurate

Says President Obama's decision to not issue a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline meant "we were denied the ability immediately to reduce prices at the pump."

Facebook posts

Facebook posts

Pants on Fire!

No proof for noxious claim

"In April 1997, there was a ‘gas out’ conducted nationwide in protest of gas prices. Gasoline prices dropped 30 cents a gallon overnight."

Mike Huckabee

Mike Huckabee

Pants on Fire!

Scores of permits granted

President Obama's refusal to grant permits for offshore drilling is one reason gasoline prices are soaring.

American Energy Alliance

American Energy Alliance

Half-True

Drilling imminent in two Alaska seas

"Obama opposed exploring for energy in Alaska."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Half-True

Not so accurate paraphrase of his words in '06

Says Mitt Romney said "we are going to have to live with high gas prices, it's a good thing because it will reduce consumption, we don't want to produce any more gasoline."

David Dewhurst

David Dewhurst

Mostly False

California, maybe

Says gas costs $4.50 a gallon.

Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich

Mostly True

Chu wanted a gradual price hike

Obama's secretary of energy, Dr. Steven Chu, "has said publicly he wants us to pay European levels (for gasoline), and that would be $9 or $10 a gallon."

Lenny Curry

Lenny Curry

False

Newt did, Obama didn't

Says Barack Obama "promised" gasoline at $2.50 a gallon.

Ron Paul

Ron Paul

Pants on Fire!

Only if you're returning the rental car after your Disney vacation

"Today gasoline hit $6 a gallon in Florida."

George Allen

George Allen

Mostly True

Presidents don't control gas prices

The cost of a gas tank fill-up has risen $30 since Barack Obama became president.  

Stephen Fincher

Stephen Fincher

False

Many factors impact gas prices

"Studies show that if we opened one reserve in Alaska now, in five years, gas prices could be at $2 a gallon."

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

Mostly False

You might remember that housing bubble

Florida's economy "became a bad economy ... because of a huge spike in oil prices in the summer of 2008."

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann

True

She's right: It fell from $4.00 in just six months

"The day President Obama took office, gasoline was $1.79 a gallon."

Jeff Merkley

Jeff Merkley

Mostly True

Even ExxonMobil agrees

Oil companies are able to sell oil that costs no more to produce today than it did one year ago.

Wisconsin Corn Growers Association

Wisconsin Corn Growers Association

Half-True

It holds down pump prices, but you also pay up from another pocket

"Without ethanol, gas prices would be at least 15% higher. With gas at four bucks, that means you’re saving 12 bucks on a 20 gallon fill up."

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