#shorts On 10/19/2022, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “Back in 2020, when Congress was debating funding for replenishing the SPR, Democrats blocked it, saying it was a bailout for big oil. Why is it a good deal for taxpayers now?

Jean-Pierre: Well, right now we are dealing — again, I laid out what the Strategic Petroleum was created for … [different subject]
Reporter: I was referring to the purchasing of the oil at $70 per barrel to replenish it.
Jean-Pierre: Oh, I’m — (laughs) — I’m sorry, I thought you were meaning like why would we tap.
Reporter: No, no, no —
Jean-Pierre: Yeah.
Reporter: — I mean the replenishing at a lower price.
Jean-Pierre: So can you say your question one more time, so I hear it properly?
Reporter: Yeah, back in 2020, when Congress was debating funding for replenishing the SPR —
Jean-Pierre: Yeah.
Reporter: — at a low price, Democrats blocked it, saying that it was a bailout for big oil. But now President Biden said today —
Jean-Pierre: So I —
Reporter: — that it would be a good deal for the taxpayers.

Jean-Pierre: Yeah, I know exactly what you’re talking about. You’re talking about when Donald Trump was trying to sell it at $20 per — per barrel.
Reporter: To buy it, I guess.
Jean-Pierre: Yeah, to buy it. Look, it was a different time then. It was not the same situation that we are currently in. The reserve was close to full capacity at that time. And so, there was no reason to — to — you know, to make that type of repurchase.