President Biden and the oil companies may be in need of relationship counseling.

The head of Chevron, Michael Wirth, said on Tuesday that Biden has used language that is insulting to the industry and not productive to their relationship. Biden said oil companies were “making more money than God.” 

The president said the Chevron CEO was being “mildly sensitive.”

The president and his administration are talking to oil companies this week about increasing production to offset high prices at the pump. Increased demand due to summer travel and lessening restrictions related to COVID-19, plus low supply due to decreased supplies after the Ukraine invasion, have caused gas prices to go over $5.00 a gallon in many states, with no end in sight. 

CEO Wirth said that Chevron is investing in increasing production, but that Biden’s criticism is “not beneficial to meeting the challenges we face and are not what the American people deserve.”

Wirth said he seeks a better relationship with Biden and his administration. 

When asked about Wirth’s comments, Biden said. “I didn’t know they’d get their feelings hurt that quickly. Look, we need more refining capacity. This idea that they don’t have oil to drill and to bring up is simply not true.”

The price of gas is a big concern for Biden and Democrats as the midterm elections approach. The White House is scrambling to find solutions, such as the federal gas tax suspension, which needs approval by Congress. Republicans are unlikely to approve it.

Representative Adam Schiff, D-Calif, is sponsoring a bill that would put the federal gas tax on “holiday” until the end of 2023.

Schiff said in a statement that he encouraged Biden to support the gas tax suspension, but “we shouldn’t stop there. We should also hold Big Oil accountable for the price-gouging that is driving prices up in the first place.”

The House of Representatives voted for legislation to prevent price gouging by oil companies, but the Senate has not acted on it. Democratic efforts to impose another tax on oil producers have also been stalled in Congress.

Top economists say that the gas holiday will not be beneficial because it doesn’t address the issue of low supplies. Many say that the 18.4 cent tax savings would not be passed on to consumers. Some states have already implemented their own gas tax holidays. 

Hopefully, Chevron and Biden will work out their differences, for the good of the country.