The following is Rivera’s entire final commentary from the show:
Geraldo Rivera: "About the only good news is that it may cut down on global warming but exploding gas prices are hurting lots of people along the way."
[Man at gas station: "Gas prices just make you definitely want to take the train all the time."]
[Man#2 at gas station: "Cost about $50 to fill up today which is just out of, out of control."]
Rivera: "It's up nearly 25 cents a gallon in just the past two weeks. Self-serve regular now averaging $2.91. And in some cities like San Diego the spinning gauge topped out at over four bucks a gallon."
[George W. Bush: "When that price of gasoline goes up it hurts working people. It hurts our small businesses and it's a serious problem that we've gotta do something about."]
Rivera: "And every time you fill up your car remember this. According to a recent filing by the company, between last year's salary and bonuses, accumulated stock options and a lump sum payment just retired ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond is getting a farewell gift valued at nearly $400 million. Last year his company earned the biggest profit of any company ever, $36 billion."
[Sen. Arlen Specter: "ExxonMobil is a combination of two big companies and the Federal Trade Commission has permitted mergers and I think that has the inevitable consequence of driving the price up."]
Rivera: "Senate Judiciary committee chairman Arlen Specter says Congress should consider taxing the windfall profits being reaped by the oil companies which I think is a no-brainer. These guys aren't entrepreneurs they are pirates. Incidentally if you're interested in finding the cheapest prices in your neighborhood check out the Web there's a millions sites and think about trading in that SUV. So that's it for us, until next time thanks very much for watching."
