Report: Pelosi considers gas price package

WASHINGTON, June 15 (UPI) -- U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pushing to assemble a set of energy proposals in time for the Independence Day holiday, a political journal reported Sunday.

An analysis published by The Hill newspaper said the California Democrat is working on energy legislation that can be passed in time for the July 4 break when Americans are likely to be most affected by gasoline prices hovering at $4 per gallon. Without naming sources, the newspaper reported Pelosi has asked House committee chairmen to begin work on a package of bills.

It said she was looking to include measures that could be easily passed, such as those with bipartisan support or legislation left out of last year's energy bill but likely to pass this time around. Among them, the newspaper said, would be a $1.7 billion authorization for expanding public transportation and a proposal to let more federal employees work from home.

Meanwhile, other proposals that could have a short-term effect of lowering gas prices are "possible" but not definite, a unnamed Democratic aide told The Hill.