Why is the American taxpayer continuing to be asked to subsidize oil corporations that are recording near record-high profit margins totalling billions of dollars?

That is a question that no one seems to be able to answer, and our elected officials are offering nothing but rhetoric and excuses.

Gas here in the Tri-State has now reached $4.29 per gallon, also nearing an all-time high.

Even as the per barrel cost of oil has decreased, gas prices continue to go up.

So, as we, the American consumer, spend more than ever to fuel up, the big oil companies are counting out the profits, all while getting more than $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies.

It is hard to see this as anything other than these oil companies taking advantage of the situation and taking advantage of the American people.

The average per gallon price of gas in Ohio as of Tuesday was $4.13 per gallon, according to AAA analysis. This is up more than $1.25 from last year.

Our legislators are too afraid to do anything because big oil companies are essentially holding us hostage with threats of employee layoffs and cutting political contributions.

This leaves our elected officials as nothing more than puppets with these big-money corporations pulling the strings.

The future of our nation and millions of its citizens hangs in the balance and we urge lawmakers to find solutions.

Now.

This should include stopping subsidies, increasing domestic production, tapping reserves and diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.

What little economic recovery we have seen is going up in flames every time we stop at the pumps.