There is no more urgent example of why we need to change direction in Washington and why we must put the common good ahead of special interests than out-of-control gas prices and Big Oil’s domination of America’s energy policy.

While drivers suffer, our environment teeters and Big Oil profits, the Bush Republicans in Washington offer nothing more than the same failed approaches that left us this mess.

So I’m working to give drivers a break today and to put our nation on a path to energy independence for the future. One key to breaking our dependence on oil is to end the influence of the old energy corporate interests.

A few years ago, during a Senate hearing, I took on the oil executives and uncovered the truth about their relationship with the Bush Administration.

I asked them if they had participated in secret, closed-door meetings with Vice President Cheney. They said no, but then we found out that they not only did secretly meet with Cheney, but these oil executives also helped write the Administration’s "energy policy.”

That so-called energy policy was full of tax giveaways for the oil companies and did nothing for consumers.

Since that time, oil companies have pocketed more than $600 billion in profits…outrageous profits that come out of our pockets. That’s what happens when the special interests overpower the common good.

I’ve just proposed a plan with my fellow Democrats in the Senate that will bring gas prices down by standing up to speculators and OPEC and begins to put our country on the path to energy independence.

Our plan reins in market speculators who are artificially pushing up the price of gasoline. It puts a stop to gasoline price gouging. It ends windfall profits and forces Big Oil to invest in renewable energy. It stands up to OPEC.

We brought this plan up for a vote in the Senate last month, but Republicans blocked it. They filibustered our bill and sided with the oil companies and their lobbyists - not America’s working families. That is why we need to change Washington - and that change can start this November.

Now is our chance to put the needs of people all across New Jersey ahead of the agenda of the Washington special interests. Please join me in this struggle.