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Sen. Schumer Wants To Cut Off Arms Sales To Saudis

New York Senator Feels His Plan Would Lower Gas Prices

NEW YORK (CBS) ― With gas prices soaring to record highs, one local lawmaker says there may be a controversial military solution to ease pain at the pump.

Sen. Charles Schumer wants to cut off arms sales to Saudi Arabia to force them to pump more oil and drive the price of gas down.

"We are saying to Saudi Arabia, once and for all, you can't get our most advanced weapons if you are going to pick the pockets of every American," said Sen. Schumer.

The senator wants the Saudis to resume pumping oil at the levels of two years ago - some 800,000 more barrels a day than are being pumped this year. Schumer thinks an upcoming arms sale is just the leverage the U.S. needs.

"If they were to increase production to 800,000 barrels, it would lower prices 30-50 cents a gallon," said Schumer.

The average price of regular gas is $3.84 a gallon - that's 72 cents higher than last year and more than double since 2001.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)


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