Congress Stalled on Gas Prices

Republicans and Democrats agree that high gasoline prices are the driving domestic political issue of the moment, spurring new campaign advertisements and maneuvering almost every day. But that is about all they can agree on when it comes to the national panic at the pump. Making it increasingly clear that the congressional debate is more a matter of political positioning than policy creation, the Senate failed to come to terms on the ground rules for considering an energy bill, delaying a proposal to curb speculation in oil futures and stymieing a broader review of energy initiatives. The stalemate is drawing sharp contrasts for the November election.