Candidates battle on energy costs

AURELIUS - U.S. Rep. Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, stopped at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES campus in Aurelius Monday to discuss the impact high energy prices are having on central New Yorkers and to share his thoughts on how the federal government should be reacting.

Arcuri, who is seeking re-election in New York's 24th Congressional District, said he had supported legislation that would lower gas prices by forcing oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of land they lease on the continental United States instead of just sitting on it, by halting the addition of any more oil to the nations strategic oil reserves until the price of crude oil fell below $50 a barrel and by taking steps to stop excessive speculation which has contributed to the increase of gas at the pump.

“We won't see a silver bullet solution overnight,” Arcuri said. “We've taken a number of steps to bring critical relief, but there are many more long-term investments we must make.”