White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters that President Obama’s trip to an oil field in New Mexico is a typical presidential visit to “highlight” his “active” energy agenda. Carney also said there is no White House-supported bill or plan to address rising gas prices.
During the daily press briefing on Monday, Carney was asked, “Is the point of going on a trip like this — where he can be photographed in front of solar panels or pipes — an opportunity to try and sell that more? Is that essentially what you’re doing?”
He responded, “I think the president travels around the country whether it’s for the Recovery Act or for the need to have a Consumer Protection Bureau or investments in alternative energy or investments in oil and gas production, it’s to focus attention on an agenda that requires not just his leadership but cooperation and leadership by members of Congress.” (RELATED: Obama burns jet fuel to downplay gasoline prices)
Carney called Obama’s energy policy an “active agenda” that the president “very much looks forward to highlighting” during his trip.
Fox News’ Ed Henry asked Carney why President Obama isn’t promoting a piece of legislation to address the gas crisis like he has done in the past with the jobs crisis.
“I think, as he’s made clear, there is not a bill that will lower gas prices at the pump. There is not a — there is not a three-point plan, a one-point plan or a five-point plan that would lower gas prices at the pump because oil is a global commodity,” Carney said.