Pump pain heats up pressure for new energy law

[jpak]

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN142...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pressure for the U.S. Congress to pass new legislation to increase vehicle fuel efficiency and hike renewable fuel use is mounting as a surge in oil prices sends consumer fuel costs toward fresh records.

Democrats have been pushing for an energy policy rewrite since they took majority control of Congress this year.

But progress has been stymied by auto industry states on fuel efficiency standards and by oil producing states on energy industry taxes.

Experts say members of Congress may now get an earful as they return home for the Thanksgiving holiday next week to voters facing forecasts that average U.S. gasoline prices will hit new records above $3.20 a gallon.

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