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OpinionJuly 18, 2000

In yet another move to improve his image by solving a phony problem, President Clinton moved last week to stockpile 2 million barrels of heating oil in an alleged attempt to head off possible sharp price increases this winter in northeastern areas of the country...

In yet another move to improve his image by solving a phony problem, President Clinton moved last week to stockpile 2 million barrels of heating oil in an alleged attempt to head off possible sharp price increases this winter in northeastern areas of the country.

To be sure, costs skyrocketed last winter, no doubt placing a financial burden on many residents of that part of the country who rely on heating oil to warm their homes. And heating oil stockpiles, according to observers, currently are low for this time of year.

However, the president demonstrated he is thinking more about politics than helping consumers with his latest announcement. Commenting on the move to reporters, the president blamed congressional Republicans for their failure to approve legislation creating a federal heating oil reserve supply for the Northeast.

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Such a reserve may indeed be a good idea, but the president apparently didn't need congressional approval last week in moving to stockpile heating oil supplies. If a stockpile is so vital to northeastern residents, why didn't the president order one during the previous seven years of his administration? Is the ability to order heating oil stockpiles some new presidential power just created that we missed?

And if Congress does really need to pass legislation to create a permanent reserve, did the president once again circumvent the legislative branch through executive fiat?

This is another example of the Clinton legacy: Appearing decisive by addressing a long-ignored non-problem.

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