Lawmakers in both parties have an array of talking points and arguments at their disposal in this election year, many of which center on the intransigence of the other party when it comes to energy solutions.

Democrats point the finger of blame at the GOP for emphasizing new oil and gas exploration, arguing that plan won't work.

"The hypocrisy of the Republicans and the President of the United States when they talk about drill, drill, drill," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last week.

For Republicans, the enemy is cleary the Democrats as well.

"We've got more excuses, we're going to blame it on speculators, blame it on oil companies, blame it on OPEC when there's only one group, only one group in this chamber we ought to blame and that is all the Liberals in this House who have voted for no energy each and every time," said House GOP Leader John Boehner.

As I've said before, $4/gallon gas did not spur action by either party when it comes political compromise on oil and gasoline.

We'll see when lawmakers return home from this week's break whether they've changed their tune at all after seeing angry constituents with pitchforks.

I paid $4.27 for Regular in my neighborhood on Saturday morning. Gas was "only" $3.98 when I filled up in New Jersey on the way home Sunday.

This is a true "pocketbook" issue for an election year, and right now, the anger of voters is being directed mainly at the Republicans.

The big question is, can they shift some of that over to the Democrats on the issue of new oil and gas exploration inside the US. It will be interesting to see.