April 1, 2008 Congress, big oil companies talk high gas prices

(NECN) - The debate between big oil and Congress over who is to blame for the skyrocketing price of gasoline, diesel and heating oil?

NECN’s R.D. Sahl has details.

Script:

Executives from the five largest oil companies were on Capitol Hill Tuesday trying to justify record profits as consumers have paid more and more for energy.

Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey - Chairman of the Energy Independence Committee - opened with a bang.

The oil companies say don't blame them for the high cost of fuel.

John Hofmeister of Shell Oil, “The price of a barrel of light sweet crude has gone up 300 percent - largely because of factors beyond the control of the oil companies.”

The hearing came as independent truckers parked their rigs or slowed to a crawl on the freeways to protest the cost of diesel - now over four dollars a gallon.

Trucker: “Getting a ticket for trying to make a living - for trying to support my family. It's not right.”