Do you remember a few months back when President Bush was catching hell for adding to the strategic petroleum reserves? MSNBC reported on the heated debate back in May:

With oil prices stuck above $40 a barrel, attention has turned to the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, a vast stockpile of oil stored underground that the U.S. continues to add to. While Democrats call for releasing some of those reserves to help ease oil prices, President Bush Wednesday repeated his long-standing position that the stockpile should only be used in the event of a critical cutoff of fuel needed to maintain the country's national defense.

At the time, market analysts were divided. Many said that the oil reserves were too insignificant to affect prices, while others said it would boost morale among traders if Bush sold off the reserves.

But after a few hurricanes lawmakers are looking to play politics. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Dick Durban (D-IL) are calling for a gasoline and jet fuel stockpile. Prices are at an all time high, and they want the government to purchase mass quantities for future use.

If they wanted to make real progress, they would make it easier and more economical to build refineries. The last refinery in the United States was built nearly 30 years ago. It's currently estimated that building a new refinery costs $3 Billion and takes 10 years. Most of that is compliance costs due to environmental and government regulation.