Maybe Cantwell is onto something

The News Tribune reports the recent rise in oil prices is the result of market manipulation by the major oil companies.

According to Tim Hamilton, a lobbyist for independent gas station owners: "The large oil companies have driven independent refiners out of business, used the commodity markets to drive up the price of crude in a "paper game" that has nothing to do with prices, and are exporting Alaskan crude oil and gasoline from Washington state refineries to places like Chile and South Korea to keep domestic supplies tight and prices high."

Meanwhile, of course, McGavick accuses Cantwell, who served several years on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, of blocking exploration and drilling efforts.

Methinks there is probably some truth on both sides of the issue.