Coal Region News

In light of the Biden administration's announcement of an immediate ban on all U.S. imports of Russian oil, the Functional Government Initiative (FGI) is advocating for greater transparency on government policy, particularly actions taken to reduce gas prices for Pennsylvanians and other Americans.

In recent months, Americans have seen gas prices rise above $4 per gallon in some areas, along with historically high levels of inflation. As a result, voters, legislators and government watchdogs are urging the Biden administration to pursue action aimed at reversing the steady rise in inflation and consumer goods prices.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), as of March 21 the average price of gas in Pennsylvania is $4.32, while the national average is $4.25.

“Last week we expressed our concerns regarding the reluctance to sanction the Russian energy market and announced that we would be seeking information surrounding that decision," FGI spokesman Peter McGinnis said in a March 9 press release. "However, the current situation creates the fear that we may be moving from funding Russia’s war machine to paying the dictator in Venezuela and the state sponsors of terrorism in Iran. The concerns of the Functional Government Initiative remain. We will continue working to expose the dysfunction of government and investigate the impact of today’s energy policy on our foreign policy and near-record levels of inflation.”

FGI is also asking for additional measures, and announced on Feb. 25 that it is seeking full transparency from government agencies on the following areas: the use of emergency executive powers to halt the rise in price of gas; the launch of an investigation into the meat and energy industries; clarification and possible reversal of policies limiting domestic fossil fuel production, halting the approval of new oil pipelines, and shutting down mining operations. FGI also expressed concern over the decision to renominate a Federal Reserve chairman who has presided over 40-year highs in inflation.

So far, the Biden administration has taken some key actions to address the problem. The Biden administration has released hundreds of millions of gallons of oil from the federal reserve stash, increasing supply and lowering prices.

The administration has also explored removing past sanctions from other oil-producing countries to make up the deficit caused by the cessation of imports from Russia. Conversations have reportedly been held between U.S. and Venezuelan officials, discussing the possible lifting of sanctions imposed on the South American country over human rights abuses committed by President Nicolas Maduro. FGI has expressed concern over this possibility, as well as reports the U.S. may consider easing sanctions on Iran, which FGI calls "the world’s prime state sponsor of terrorism."

As gas prices continue to rise, legislators have stepped in to criticize the administration's response. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) said the Biden administration is to blame for the spike in pump prices. On March 8, he wrote, "By effectively shutting down our own supply of critical oil and gas, the Biden Administration increased our reliance on foreign countries for our energy needs, increased global emissions, and increased gas prices for American families."

A rise in the price of gas leads to increased costs down the supply chain, as it becomes more expensive for companies to transport goods around the country. FGI says it is committed to investigating how the administration's policies affect both the ability of the U.S. to project its influence abroad, and how these decisions affect the cost of living for Americans..

FGI is a nonpartisan organization that describes itself as an advocate of transparency from government institutions and elected officials, as well as a promoter of "the values and beliefs of working Americans, strong families and thriving communities."