In the weeks leading up to the July 15 primary election, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution will pose questions to candidates for the U.S. Senate seat held by Republican Saxby Chambliss. Candidates are given 150 words to answer. The winner of the Democratic primary will face Chambliss and Libertarian Allen Buckley in November.

The Republican incumbent

Saxby Chambliss: Every day I hear from Georgians who are tired of high gas prices. Make no mistake: Congress and especially the Democrats in Congress are to blame.

In Congress, I have voted for four things we must do to bring prices down: explore and drill for oil in the United States; increase our refining capacity; research and develop alternative fuels; and promote conservation.

I have co-sponsored the American Energy Production Act that will increase domestic oil and gas production. I have co-sponsored S. 2890 that will temporarily suspend the federal gas tax. I will continue to work with like-minded Democrats and Republicans to enact a comprehensive energy policy that will bring prices down.

America is dependent on foreign countries for 62 percent of our oil, but Democrats in Congress are blocking efforts to increase domestic production. So the next time you fill your tank, thank a Democrat for the high gas prices.

U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss is a former representative and attorney from Moultrie.

The Democrats

Josh Lanier: Solving high fuel costs requires honesty, leadership and courage. We must be honest that oil is a commodity traded on open markets, that any real solution is long-term, that our future is linked to a mix of traditional and new alternative fuels and technologies, and that the reason we have failed to produce a national energy policy is the paralyzing influence of money and special interests.

We know that raising average mileage requirements will dramatically reduce demand for and imports of oil. We know that Georgia and America can lead the world in new fuel alternatives, new technologies and new jobs. And we know that our automobile industry can produce breakthrough high-mileage cars and trucks to meet a world demand.

We must be honest with the American people and lead with the courage to act in our national interest and not on behalf of special interests.

Josh Lanier is a retired businessman and former U.S. Senate staffer who lives in Statesboro.

Rand Knight: If we are to save our way of life, then we must transition to domestic sources of renewable energy for economic and national security reasons. Drilling for oil domestically is not an immediate solution —- it will take almost five years to get the new oil rigs to market and operational. For less money, and in less time, we can create more jobs and cheaper gasoline and diesel right here in Georgia. In less than 30 months we can build 30 medium-size gasoline and diesel facilities in Georgia that produce fuel from agricultural wastes at a cost of less than a dollar per gallon. Every acre of Georgia's unused agricultural land can produce 20,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel per year by growing algae for fuel in 2- to 4-foot-deep ponds. These solutions build jobs and revenue for Georgia and are good for the environment and our health.

Rand Knight is an Atlanta businessman.

Dale Cardwell: Congress can't be trusted on issues that pit oil interests against your interests. Why? Politicians are addicted to oil industry "PAC" money that controls their votes and America's energy policy. If we elect new leaders who refuse special interest "PAC" money, we can move forward on our most pressing challenges, including ending our dependence on foreign oil. I support the launch of a patriotic nationwide conservation effort to dramatically reduce demand. This will burst the speculation "bubble" that's driven prices above $100 per barrel and will cut pump prices by one-third. We must also eliminate subsidies to oil companies and commit those dollars toward research and expansion of "green" based domestic energy sources. Georgia Tech's Dr. Sam Shelton and I will work together to fast-track legislation to convert 20 percent of Georgia's gasoline use to cellulosic pine-based ethanol. This will lower gas prices and create jobs in Georgia's rural communities.

Dale Cardwell is a former investigative reporter for WSB-TV in Atlanta.

Vernon Jones: With our soldiers defending Iraqi oil fields, it is inconceivable and unacceptable that the American people are paying at least three times as much for fuel as the Iraqi citizens. Our first priority is to end subsidies for major oil companies. Although environmentally safe drilling is an option, I strongly disagree with Bush, McCain and Chambliss to end the 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling. We must require the automobile industry to produce cars that will average more miles per gallon. Alternative energy sources, such as wind, solar and biofuels are essential. This will drive down fuel costs, increase our independence and create thousands of green energy jobs.

The government should invest in providing incentives to the private market for research and development of alternative energy sources. As CEO of DeKalb County, I have a record of partnering with the community and Georgia Power to capture methane gas at one of our landfills, where we are now providing green usable energy. The final solution is, there must be a change in Washington.

Vernon Jones is CEO of DeKalb County and a former state legislator.

Jim Martin: Skyrocketing gas prices are a crisis for Georgia families, and the shortsighted policies of George Bush and Saxby Chambliss are putting our economic and national security at risk. We have to end their $17 billion in tax breaks to oil companies and invest that money in developing new alternative fuels. We have to close the loopholes that let oil speculators drive up prices —- as much as $1 a gallon according to some experts. We should require oil companies to put their record profits in new, clean refineries to increase supply. And lastly, we need to say no to the special interests and require utilities to get more of their energy from renewable sources. Ending our dependence on foreign oil and lowering gas prices won't come easy, but we have to start by doing what Bush and Chambliss won't do: stand up to big oil and demand relief for middle-class Georgians.

Jim Martin is a former state legislator and former head of the state Department of Human Resources.

The Libertarian

Allen Buckley: Accelerate hydrogen fueling or similar clean-burning fuel by not taxing purchases and providing a reward for development. According to the U.S. DOE, hydrogen burns cleanly, will cost 63 cents to $1.50 per gasoline gallon equivalent and could be produced for U.S. vehicles using natural gas with only a 3 percent/year increase in natural gas consumption.

The less a vehicle's CO2 emissions, the less road tax it should bear. A $7 billion reward should be offered to the first company or venture that produces, in each U.S. metropolitan area with 3 million or more people, 10 filling stations and 1,000 hydrogen or similar clean-burning cars that are safe and reasonably expected to cost less than $2 per gasoline gallons equivalent to fuel.

Ethanol is a waste that drives up food costs. Oil drilling should be permitted in areas now off-limits provided safeguards exist to effectively protect the environment.

Allen Buckley is an attorney/CPA who lives in Smyrna.