ORLANDO -- Florida Sen. Mel Martinez has a plan to reduce gas prices, but he said it means making changes in how you get around.
Speaking to United Parcel Service truck drivers in Orlando, Martinez proposed his fuel saving plan, which would start with the military.
Martinez said he is in talks with the Defense Department to reduce military fuel use by 3 percent.
According to Martinez, that the reduction would not affect operations in Iraq or Afghanistan, but it could have a big effect on fuel supplies. What's more, he said, once that's done he'll ask every American to reduce their fuel usage by 3 percent.
"Let's see if we could use 3 percent less. If that commitment was not only present from our armed forces, but every American family, I think we could really make a difference in what the speculators anticipate is an ever-increasing demand for fuel," Martinez said.
Martinez said high fuel prices are especially hurtful to Florida's economy. He said the high gas prices keep people from driving and flying to the Sunshine State.
"Families trying to make a decision in the Midwest on whether they're going to come down to Florida for a vacation. They may decide to vacation closer to home. So this is going to hit our tourism economy and have wide impact on all of our economy," Martinez said.
As for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico or up in Alaska, Martinez said that could help, but is not an immediate solution. It could be years before the fuel ever reaches consumers.
Martinez is pushing things like carpooling, hybrids and finding new fuel sources to cut down on oil use.
The senator said he has already started driving a hybrid car himself. He also said the nation should be looking into other fuel sources such as coal and natural gas.
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