KAAL-TV: Walz on the economy

Update: KEYC-TV covers the story here (video at link too):

Congressman Tim Walz is floating a suggestion he says could help lower the price of gas. The Minnesota Democrat is among a group of lawmakers calling on President Bush to stop sending oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The President has resisted the idea, but Walz says his concerns are unfounded. Rep. Walz says, "He's bought up to 97 percent of that, and most experts agree that if we would stop, our national security issues are not put in any jeopardy, and prices on gas would fall 24 cents a gallon." The reserve was created in 1975 to guard against disruptions to the nation's oil supply; it currently holds over 700 billion barrels worth of crude. [end update]

There's more of  Congressman Walz speaking in the video clip that accompanies this short article at KAAL-TV, Walz Speaks Out on Economy:

The rising cost of gas is forcing Washington to come up with some solutions to ease that pain at the pump.

Minnesota congressman Tim Walz spoke out about the struggling economy. Walz says he is excited to see stimulus checks make their way into mailboxes across the state, but he says more needs to be done.

“This new Congress understands that this is only the first step. That’s why we’re working on the second part of the stimulus package: to address the home loan crisis, to address gas prices, and to address some of the issues facing middle class families, like food prices.”

Walz also stresses that he wants the president to stop buying into petroleum reserves. Walz says this move will drop gas prices by as much as 24-cents a gallon. . . .