Governor Joe Manchin came out swinging today against the President, blaming him in a press conference for the rising gas prices.

Surrounded by the Democratic leadership from the House and Senate, Governor Manchin declared that because the gas prices have gone up while President Bush was in office, he is to blame. He also stated that it is “immoral” for oil companies to make a profit during this time.

Statements such as these only show the Governor’s ignorance of the issue. If the price of a barrel of oil goes up, what can the President possibly do? Is he supposed to force U.S. oil companies to charge the United States a lower price than the rest of the world? When it comes to oil, the United States is only one of many countries that desperately need gasoline to keep running.

Oil has gone up $10 a barrel ever since Cindy Sheehan began her protest against the war in Iraq outside President Bush’s ranch. Does that mean she is responsible?

To combat the rising gas prices, Governor Manchin announced he would place a moratorium on the state gas tax to keep it at its current level for a year.

While I agree with the decision, I question the Governor’s authority to reduce the tax. According to Article 10, Section 1 of the West Virginian Constitution, the Legislature has the authority to tax. It would have been much better for the Governor to put the issue on the call and let the Legislature reduce the tax. This is one more example of the Governor overreaching his authority.

A member of the Press asked the Governor if he was planning on removing the gas tax completely for 15 days as Senator Sprouse suggested. The Governor’s retort was while he could remove all taxes, but that would not be good for the economy. Much is in that simple statement. The Governor succinctly declared the difference between Republicans and Democrats. While Democrats see the government – and ultimately, themselves – as the solution to the problem, Republicans see government as the problem. One thing I know for sure, Governor Joe Manchin helps make the Republican’s case.