Childers on Oil Speculation

DeSoto Times - In Brief: Childers presides over U.S. House - Just back from his first official visit to Iraq over the July Fourth recess, U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., had another first as a congressman Wednesday when he presided over the House of Representatives. Childers, who took office May 20 after winning a special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., took up the Speaker's gavel to rule on motions from the floor during votes on legislation calling for housing assistance to very low income veterans, which passed, and a bill providing for minting quarter coins engraved with images of national parks.

Daily Journal - Childers pushes for energy solutions - In the face of ever-increasing gas prices, U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, D-Miss., called on the House Agriculture Committee this week to investigate the practice of oil speculation. "When I was elected, the price of gasoline was $3.61 per gallon. Barely a month later the price of gasoline per gallon has jumped to over $4," Childers said. "Recently, I met with sweet potato farmers from my district who are facing increased production costs as the prices of diesel fuel, fertilizer and gasoline all rise. "These price spikes have placed a tremendous economic pressure on an industry that is vital to my district and is threatening the livelihood of many of the Mississippi working families I represent." Although Childers and other committee members will explore numerous factors leading to today's high energy prices, most have specifically cited oil speculation as a particular concern. Congress this summer has already held about a half dozen hearings on the issue, with lawmakers vowing to tighten restrictions on the practice. This week's hearing in the Agriculture Committee will be the first such hearing that Childers has attended, confirmed his communications director, Dana Edelstein. But the congressman said he’s anxious to work with his colleagues from both parties to come up with a solution.

Y'allPolitics - Travis Childers (D) on Oil Speculation