While most solutions for lowering gas prices and usage are long term, Senator Chris Dodd has several ideas that will work sooner. He says that just changing the margin requirements for oil and gas like that of other commodities you would see an immediate change in the price of a barrel of crude oil. Dodd adds that more also needs to be done to reduce our nations dependence on the middle east for oil, including forcing the oil and gas industry to go after more product here in the U.S.