McCaskill on oil prices, fake universities

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - Senator Claire McCaskill says she’s hesitant about tapping into the nation’s stockpile of oil to ease skyrocketing gas prices.

President Obama’s chief of staff announced that the administration is considering such a move on Sunday.

The Missouri Democrat says the ongoing unrest in oil-producing countries means even tighter supplies could be ahead. The better option, she says, is a hard look in the mirror.

“We’ve got to get over our addiction to foreign oil. We’ve got to start really focusing on how we use less oil in this country, and how we use other fuels, and how we use other methods of transportation besides automobiles that are fueled entirely with Middle East oil,” McCaskill said.

McCaskill says she would also favor expanding drilling in areas where oil companies already hold leases, but does NOT want to open additional land like the Arctic National Wildlife refuge to drilling.

McCaskill has joined other Senators in asking for investigations into how non-existent universities were able to use an exchange program for college students to bring thousands of people into the country illegally.

McCaskill says lawmakers first became aware of the problem after federal investigators found that two English-language schools in Los Angeles were actually fronts for a Russian prostitution ring.

She is calling for an audit and an inspector general investigation, as well as legislation to close any loopholes.

McCaskill says Immigration and Customs Enforcement is responsible for making sure applications to the program are accurate.

“The question is, were they cross-checking with higher ed, that has, to provide the certification that these schools are legitimate, and that the schools are actually providing an education,” McCaskill said.

McCaskill says there is no evidence that any legitimate universities have misused the system.

Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio

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