Furious Voters to Congress: Lower Gas Prices Now!

Lawmakers who returned to their districts for the 4th of July break have been pushed back to Congress with a resounding order to take action to lower gas prices. Angry and anxious taxpayers have made it clear that soaring energy prices are their chief concern, giving their representatives fresh impetus to work for bipartisan action, reports the New York Times. But compromise may be tough.

The stalemate over new offshore drilling, for example, will be tough to break, with Democrats unwilling to contradict Barack Obama's view that domestic drilling isn't the answer. Both Democrats and Republicans have shown signs of shifting toward the middle on energy policy this week, however, aware that voters won't spare either party. "They blame 'the government,'" said a Maine senator whose constituents are shuddering at the prospect of $5,000 winter heating bills. (More Congress stories.)