Long Island residents are becoming increasingly frustrated with skyrocketing gas prices, and a new poll by News 12 Long Island and Hofstra University shows more than one-third of them blame President Bush for the situation.

Nationwide, gas prices have climbed 7 cents a gallon over the last two weeks. That increase is making it tough for the average driver, let alone Long Island residents who depend on driving to make a living. According to the poll, 37 percent of respondents say Bush is responsible for rising energy prices. Twenty-one percent blame the oil companies and 17 percent say it is the fault of oil producing countries.

Economist Irwin Kellner of Capitol One Bank says rising prices are caused by oil producers reacting to recent moves by the Federal Reserve to fix America?s stumbling economy.

"Oil is a commodity priced in dollars,? Kellner says. ?As the dollar goes lower, oil producing states raise their prices in order to compensate for loss in buying power."

Kellner says speculators have also driven up the price of oil.

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