Her appearance was attended by about 10 people, including Vicki Covington, 48, of Joplin. She said her family has felt the crunch of high fuel prices.

“We have quit going places,” Covington said. “We are riding bicycles, combining trips and doing what we can. Gas prices are just too high.”

Covington said she liked what she heard about Steelman’s energy policy.

“I don’t know if repealing the mandate will actually lower gas prices,” she said. “But it should help. It sounds like a good idea.”

Offshore drilling

Missouri’s principal Republican gubernatorial candidates are in favor of federal efforts to allow offshore drilling for oil.

“Congress should have already allowed it,” Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman said Tuesday. “The people of the state want a bold solution to this problem.”

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof also favors offshore drilling.