S.D. senator blames Congress for fuel prices

St. Paul, Minn. — Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said inaction by Congress is partly to blame for the high price of fuel.

The republican senator has introduced legislation that he says will create energy independence.

Sen. Thune calls it his "plan to reform American energy." The legislation supports finding new sources of oil including drilling in the arctic national wildlife refuge, and lifts restrictions for off-shore drilling.

Thune said U.S. consumers wouldn't see high fuel prices today if drilling in ANWR started ten years ago.

Thune also wants money for funding new technologies like plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and cellulosic ethanol.

The legislation would create a fund from oil lease payments.