Dear Editor: It's been eight weeks since I wrote about paying $4.19 for a gallon of gas and since that time we've seen the prices continue to rise. We hear a great deal from our elected officials, including my Congress­man Steve Israel, about this incredible spike in prices but as usual, we see no action. What will it take for our elected officials to finally show some sign of leadership? After all, that's what we expect from our elected officials and no, it's not too much to expect. In recent weeks, we've seen executives of major oil companies called down to Washington D.C. to testify to Congress so that the House and Senate members could grandstand and act as if they are doing some­thing for the American people.

Bottom line, after all the media attention and hype, nothing happened. We've heard cries from the Dem­ocrats that it's President Bush's fault that the prices have gone up so high yet every time the Republi­cans try to pass a bill to allow drilling in ANWR or anywhere else in the U.S., the Democrats, including my Congressman Steve Israel, refuse to vote for it. It's interesting to note that in 1995 the Republican controlled Congress passed a bill to start drilling in ANWR and presented it to President Clinton for sig­nature. Due to his incredible lack of leadership and foresight, he refused to sign the bill and stated that "it will take us 10 years before we see any oil coming from ANWR".

Oil was going for $19 a barrel back then and today we're paying in excess of $130 per barrel. Brilliant move Mr. Clinton, simply brilliant. So, rather than calling for investigations, inquiries, meetings, hear­ings and other meaningless media parties, maybe, just maybe, it's time for our elected officials like Congressman Steve Israel to show a little leadership, common sense and actually do something to move us in the right direction. Stop talking and start drilling; it's the right thing to do.

Frank J. Stalzer

The writer is a Republican/Conservative candidate for US Congress, 2nd District.