As Gov. Jim Douglas and Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie announced their ideas related to handling high fuel and food prices this week, each went out of his way to say how much they appreciated the work the congressional delegation was doing.

Dubie said speculation of fuel prices was creating a breakdown in market forces and he encouraged Congress to investigate.

Douglas walked a tighter line. As the Senate was voting on an excess profits tax this week, Douglas praised Congress' efforts. So was he for the excess profits tax that Republicans in the Senate squashed? Well, said spokesman Jason Gibbs, he was for debating the excess profits tax.

"He certainly would have voted to allow the bill to come to the floor," Gibbs said. "The governor supports having all ideas discussed."

It was hard to tell exactly why Douglas and Dubie were making a point of praising Congress' efforts, particularly given that Congress' efforts haven't succeeded in making any headway, although I did pay only $3.99 a gallon for gas yesterday.

Certainly, they wanted to make it clear that Washington, not Montpelier, should be the one solving these problems. Were they also trying to distance themselves from D.C. Republicans?

- Terri Hallenbeck