Nick Snow
Washington Editor

WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 30 -- US President George W. Bush urged Congress to send a positive signal to world energy markets by removing obstacles to more domestic oil and gas production. He also rejected calls to quit filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve while oil prices are near record levels but said he would consider suspending the federal gasoline tax through the summer and other proposals.

"If Congress is truly interested in solving the problem, they can send the right signal by saying we're going to explore for oil and gas in the US territories, starting with [the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]," Bush told reporters at an Apr. 29 press conference.

"If we're generally interested in moving forward with an energy policy that sends a signal to the world that…we're going to become less reliant on foreign oil, we can explore at home as well as continue with an alternative fuels program," Bush said.

Congressional Democratic leaders immediately dismissed Bush's proposal. "Only President Bush could allow 'Big Oil' to write our nation's energy policy, guarantee billions in oil tax breaks and refuse to stand up to [the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries], and then shirk responsibility for [gasoline] prices that have more than doubled and oil prices that have quadrupled since he took office," Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said.