WIRE:03/22/2000 19:19:00 ET U.S. truckers protest high fuel prices WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - Hundreds of U.S. truckers gathered on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, asking Congress for relief from high fuel prices and for action against oil-producing countries they blame for the rises. The drivers, who have seen their fuel prices leap by 50 percent in the past few months, also want the Clinton administration to release some of the nation's emergency stockpile of oil to lower oil prices.

"These men and women (drivers) are being forced to choose between food on the table and fuel in their truck. This is not a fair choice," International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James Hoffa said.

"I call on Congress to help the American trucker during this national fuel crisis," Hoffa said.

The protest was the third time in a month that various groups of truckers have come to the nation's capital to seek relief from high fuel costs.

Diesel prices have soared due to low petroleum stocks caused by global production cutbacks. The national price for diesel fuel is about $1.48 a gallon, up 50 cents from a year ago.

With the typical long-haul tractor trailer rig getting just six miles to the gallon, and holding 250 to 300 gallons of fuel, the cost of filling a tank has risen by about $150.

Hoffa called on Congress to pass legislation holding members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries accountable for production policies.

He said OPEC nations should be more grateful to the United States for sending soldiers to the Middle East "to save their hides" during the Persian Gulf War.

"That's a heck of a way to show their gratitude, by jacking up these (petroleum) prices," Hoffa said.

Sen. Robert Torricelli, a New Jersey Democrat, told the truckers that the Clinton administration should release oil from the nation's 569-million barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve to lower prices and support elimination of the federal fuel excise tax.

"Eliminate the federal tax on fuel until the price of oil comes down at the pump," Torricelli said, drawing loud applause from the protesting truckers.

Both the Clinton administration and several key Republican leaders oppose a cutback in the fuel tax, arguing it would take money away from road improvement projects.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/reuters20000322_3722.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 22, 2000