GOP, White House trade fire over gas prices

(White House-AP) -- G-O-P lawmakers and the White House are trading fire over soaring gas prices. Republicans called a news conference to say the Clinton administration's been "asleep at the wheel"

Wednesday, March 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(White House-AP) -- G-O-P lawmakers and the White House are trading fire over soaring gas prices. Republicans called a news conference to say the Clinton administration's been "asleep at the wheel" as oil-producing countries cut their output.

House Speaker Dennis Hastert says the White House should get tougher with countries like Kuwait and Mexico that the United States has helped. But Press Secretary Joe Lockhart says it's all just G-O-P "grandstanding."

He says if Republicans are serious about energy they'll approve President Clinton's plan for tax breaks to encourage greater fuel efficiency.

The nearly four billion-dollar Clinton package was sent to Congress last year -- and went nowhere. Lockhart says that's because the G-O-P is beholden to special interests.

Presidential hopeful George W. Bush charges the White House has no energy policy. Lockhart says that just another of Bush's "ill-informed" statements.