Gas prices not making sense, so…

Gas prices not making sense, so… Senator Bernie Sanders wants new legislation.

A news release from the Senator’s Office says, “U.S. oil consumption is expected to go down by one million barrels a day compared to last year. Meanwhile, the supply of oil in the U.S. is higher today than it was 37 years ago. The fundamentals of supply and demand do not explain why gas prices have gone up 44 days in a row and why oil prices have more than doubled in the past four months.”

In the release the Independent Senator from Vermont blames speculators, “for gaming world energy markets.” Senator Sanders introduced a bill allowing federal regulators invoke emergency powers to stop speculation.

The release states, “Sanders’ legislation would direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to stop sudden or unreasonable fluctuations or unwarranted changes in prices.”

Another release from the Senator’s office quotes the Senator Sanders saying, “The last thing people need now is to be ripped off at the gas pump because speculators on Wall Street -- some of the same people who received the largest taxpayer bailout in U.S. history -- are allowed to jack up oil prices through price manipulation and outright fraud.”

SOURCE:

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=314264

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=314261

Two thirds parties could have a major impact…

Two thirds parties could have a major impact… in the 2010 Minnesota Gubernatorial race.

A column written by Blois Olson on Minnpost.com points out “Third-party influence” in the race for governor. The column of course points to the 1998 election of Jesse Ventura on the Independence Party ticket.

Olson says, “DFLers (Minnesota’s version of Democrats) grumble that the IP candidates' vote totals were a major factor in their nominees losing those races.” In the two gubernatorial elections since Ventura’s one term in office Independence Party candidates pulled in 16.1% and 6.4% of the vote.

That number could even be higher in 2010 for an Independent Party ticket. In the hotly contested Senatorial race between Senator Norm Coleman and Al Franken, former Senator Dean Barkley won about 15% of the vote.

Olson’s commentary does not end with Minnesota’s own Independence Party. He writes the Green Party and the Libertarian Party could play factors.

Olson believes the Libertarian Party has the chance to play a large factor if, “(the Republican) Ron Paul faction is dissatisfied with the way it's treated by Republicans or is unhappy with the GOP-endorsed candidate.”

http://www.minnpost.com/bloisolson/2009/06/11/9472/in_minnesotas_governors_race_history_tells_us_to_expect_the_unexpected

Go libertarian for office...

Go libertarian for office... in Indiana.

The Indiana Libertarians are tweeting out a link asking people to run for office. The link goes to a form where people can explain “What office would you like to run for and why?”

The form also asks basic contact information and which issues are the most important to the prospective candidates.

SOURCE:

http://www.lpin.org/run-for-office

http://twitter.com/lpin