Democrats in Congress tonight fired the opening shots in the battle to sink President George W. Bush's energy plan, dubbing it an oil man's dream.
"It looks like an Exxon Mobil annual report, and maybe that's what it is," said House Minority Leader Democrat Mr Dick Gephardt, holding up a copy of the glossy publication.
President Bush, a former oil executive, argued his plan, drawn up by a team led by Vice President Mr Dick Cheney, will give near-term relief for US consumers fighting high gas prices and power shortages and "light the way to a brighter future" for the United States.
But Mr Gephardt scoffed at the claims. "This plan does nothing for people who need relief right now," he said, referring to consumers in California who have seen their bills soar in the last year, threatening counties in what is the world's sixth-largest economy.
"Sixty-five per cent of small business in San Diego county is facing bankruptcy" due to increased electricity prices, said California congressman Mr Bob Filner.
Democrats are calling for immediate price caps on electricity costs in California and have introduced legislation ordering the administration to implement them.
But the measure's success is dependent on support from Republicans, who have praised the president's plan.
Democrats also lambasted the administration's emphasis on increased oil production as favouring providers rather than consumers and dismissed President Bush's touted references to renewable energy in the report as nothing more than window dressing.
"This is wrong," said Congressman Mr Brian Baird of Washington state, who said the energy crunch was taking place "at a time of record profits for oil companies and record bonuses for oil executives.
"I am ashamed and embarrassed by what this administration is doing." AFP