Statement from Joseph N. Mondello, New York Republican State Committee Chairman

The soaring price of gasoline is at absolute crisis level for small businesses and families who are already dealing with rising prices across the board. Today’s rally in Albany highlights the problem Republicans have been trying to address for months with little cooperation from Democrats.

Republicans from Senator John McCain at the federal level to Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, Assembly Republican Leader James Tedisco and their Republican conferences at the state level have advanced a range of commonsense proposals to provide the relief people need immediately while longer-term solutions are proposed, researched and enacted.

Conversely, Senator Obama and other Democrats at the State level have resorted to their usual, knee-jerk reaction to every problem– raising taxes. The last thing New York’s families and businesses need now are more taxes and higher prices. They need relief, and they need it now.

The people are speaking. Democrats must listen and join Republicans in action.

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