Thread: Democrats Refuse to Lift Ban on Offshore Oil Drilling

Once again, it looks like the Dems aren't concerned for the United States citizens. Why should we produce our own energy fuels when we can be totally dependent on Arabian and Venezuelan concerns? After all, U.S. Taxpayers need to have things taken away from them so they can realize what other countries are going through and so that we can be happy to pay for the escalating expenses of our economy; a great deal of which are caused by Illegals! Nancy Pelosi must be appalled that we don't embrace her political ideals! She must wonder why we cannot be more Socialistic in our thinking!!!

I hope all of our ALIPACers realize that I am being sarcastic here. What about restoring and maintaining U.S. Productivity?? We should not have to be dependent on anyone.

Here is the story:

Bush to Congress: Embrace energy exploration now


By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 24 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - With gasoline topping $4 a gallon, President Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to lift its long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, saying the United States needs to increase its energy production. Democrats quickly rejected the idea.

"There is no excuse for delay," the president said in a statement in the Rose Garden. With the presidential election just months away, Bush made a pointed attack on Democrats, accusing them of obstructing his energy proposals and blaming them for high gasoline costs. His proposal echoed a call by Republican presidential candidate John McCain to open the Continental Shelf for exploration.

"Families across the country are looking to Washington for a response," Bush said.

Congressional Democrats were quick to reject the push for lifting the drilling moratorium, saying oil companies already have 68 million acres offshore waters under lease that are not being developed.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Bush's proposals "another page from (an)... energy policy that was literally written by the oil industry — give away more public resources."

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democrats' presumptive presidential nominee, rejected lifting the drilling moratorium that has been supported by a succession of presidents for nearly two decades.

"This is not something that's going to give consumers short-term relief and it is not a long-term solution to our problems with fossil fuels generally and oil in particular," said Obama. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, lumping Bush with McCain, accused them of staging a "cynical campaign ploy" that won't help lower energy prices.

"Despite what President Bush, John McCain and their friends in the oil industry claim, we cannot drill our way out of this problem," Reid said. "The math is simple: America has just three percent of the world's oil reserves, but Americans use a quarter of its oil."

White House spokesman Tony Fratto retorted: "Anyone out there saying that something can be done overnight, or in a matter of months, to deal with high gasoline prices is trying to fool people. There is no tool in the toolbox out there that will lower gas prices overnight, or in weeks, or probably not even in months."

Bush said offshore drilling could yield up to 18 billion barrels of oil over time, although it would take years for production to start. Bush also said offshore drilling would take pressure off prices over time.

There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by Bush's father in 1990. Bush's brother, Jeb, fiercely opposed offshore drilling when he was governor of Florida. What the president now proposes would rescind his father's decision — but the president took the position that Congress has to act first and then he would follow behind.

Asked why Bush doesn't act first and lift the ban, Keith Hennessey, the director of the president's economic council, said: "He thinks that probably the most productive way to work with this Congress is to try to do it in tandem."

Before Bush spoke, the House Appropriations Committee postponed a vote it had scheduled for Wednesday on legislation doing the opposite of what the president asked — extending Congress' ban on offshore drilling. Lawmakers said they wanted to focus on a disaster relief bill for the battered Midwest.

Bush also proposed opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, lifting restrictions on oil shale leasing in the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and easing the regulatory process to expand oil refining capacity.

With Americans deeply pessimistic about the economy, Bush tried to put on the onus on Congress. He acknowledged that his new proposals would take years to have a full effect, hardly the type of news that will help drivers at the gas stations now. The White House says no quick fix exists.

Still, Bush said Congress was obstructing progress — and directly contributing to consumers' pain at the pump.

"I know the Democratic leaders have opposed some of these policies in the past," Bush said. "Now that their opposition has helped drive gas prices to record levels, I ask them to reconsider their positions."

Bush said that if congressional leaders head home for their July 4 recess without taking action, they will need to explain why "$4 a gallon gasoline is not enough incentive for them to act. And Americans will rightly ask how high gas prices have to rise before the Democratic-controlled Congress will do something about it."

Bush said restrictions on offshore drilling have become "outdated and counterproductive."

In a nod to the environmental arguments against drilling, Bush said technology has come a long way. These days, he said, oil exploration off the coastline can be done in a way that "is out of sight, protects coral reefs and habitats, and protects against oil spills."

Congressional Democrats, joined by some GOP lawmakers from coastal states, have opposed lifting the prohibition that has barred energy companies from waters along both the East and West coasts and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for 27 years.

On Monday, McCain made lifting the federal ban on offshore oil and gas development a key part of his energy plan. McCain said states should be allowed to pursue energy exploration in waters near their coasts and get some of the royalty revenue.

Obama retorted that the Arizona senator had flip-flopped on that issue.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/ap_ ... fshore_oil

I agree with the Dems on this one.

IF the oil co. would write it in their own blood guaranteeing $2.00 a gallon gas if we allowed them more oil drilling rights then I would say ok but I will not agree to make them richer off of land which belongs to all of us while we still pay outrageous prices at the gas pumps.

NO I will not be part of their scheme for more profits while we all suffer and I hope Americans can see their deception for what it is.Besides do you really think Bush would do anything to help us ?

That's nice. Now why don't the Dems do something about Cuba/China? See bold print in following article.



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Bush asks Congress to clear way for offshore oil drilling

* Story Highlights
* NEW: John McCain on Wednesday continues his pitch for offshore oil drilling
* GOP stands for Gas and Oil Party, Democratic congressman says
* President asks for end to legal ban on exploration in coastal waters
* New rigs would take 3-5 years to reach market, analyst says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush asked Congress on Wednesday to permit drilling for oil in deep water off America's coasts to combat rising oil and gas prices.

"There is no excuse for delay," the president said in a Rose Garden statement.

Bush also renewed his demand that Congress allow drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, clear the way for more refineries and encourage efforts to recover oil from shale in areas such as the Green River Basin of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

Bush said that the basin potentially contains more than three times as much recoverable oil as Saudi Arabia's proven reserves, and that the high price of oil makes it profitable to extract it. VideoWatch Bush make a case for new drilling »

"In the short run, the American economy will continue to rely largely on oil, and that means we need to increase supply here at home," said Bush, adding there is no more pressing issue than gas prices for many Americans. Map: See where drilling is and isn't allowed »

Meanwhile, at an energy forum in Springfield, Missouri, Sen. John McCain on Wednesday continued his pitch for offshore drilling.

"In the short term, this requires more domestic production, especially in the Outer Continental Shelf. We need to encourage production in ways that are consistent with sensible standards of environmental protection. And in states that permit exploration, there must be a sharing of benefits between state and federal governments. But as a matter of fairness to the American people, we must assure affordable fuel for America by increasing domestic production," the presumed Republican presidential nominee said.

The White House estimates there are 18 billion barrels of oil offshore that have not been exploited because of state bans, 10 billion to 12 billion in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and 800 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the Green River Basin. iReport.com: Is drilling the best option?

However, much of the U.S. oil is difficult or impossible to extract under current law.

As for gas prices, resuming offshore exploration would not be a quick fix.

"If we were to drill today, realistically speaking, we should not expect a barrel of oil coming out of this new resource for three years, maybe even five years, so let's not kid ourselves," said Fadel Gheit, oil and gas analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. Equity Capital Markets Division.

But it almost certainly would be profitable.

Candida Scott, an oil industry researcher at Cambridge Research Associates, said oil needs to be priced at $60 a barrel or more to justify deep-shelf drilling. With oil now selling for $134 a barrel, companies are almost assured of profiting from offshore drilling, Scott said.

"For years, the president has pushed Congress to expand our domestic oil supply, but Democrats in Congress have consistently blocked such action," White House press secretary Dana Perino told CNN before Bush spoke.

She added, "As with several existing Republican congressional proposals, he wants to work with states to determine where offshore drilling should occur, and also for the federal government to share revenues with the states. The president believes Congress shouldn't waste any more time." VideoWatch interests compete over oil »

Democrats were quick to reject Bush's proposal.

"After eight years, President Bush and [Vice President] Dick Cheney have turned the GOP into the Gas and Oil Party. That's the legacy that they are going to leave," said Rep. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

"The White House has become a ventriloquist for the oil and gas industry, repeating the requests of the oil and gas industry -- that they be allowed to destroy the most pristine areas of our country," Markey added.

Congressional Democrats last week introduced a bill to compel oil companies to begin utilizing federal land they already lease.

"Oil companies are sitting on 68 million acres they have already leased from the American people for the purpose of oil and natural gas production," said Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey.

"It is about time they use these resources already at their disposal instead of waiting for more federal handouts and pushing to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge or up and down our coasts," he added.

Bush's request came a day after McCain issued the same call at a campaign event in Houston, Texas.

"We have proven oil reserves of at least 21 billion barrels in the United States," he said. "But a broad federal moratorium stands in the way of energy exploration and production. And I believe it is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions and to put our own reserves to use." VideoWatch McCain state his new position on drilling »

He said lifting the ban could be done "in ways that are consistent with sensible standards of environmental protection."

Opponents of offshore drilling say it would harm aquatic ecosystems by eroding wetlands, contaminating the water with chemicals, polluting the air, killing fish and dumping waste.

McCain made clear that he favors continuing the ban on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"Quite rightly, I believe, we confer a special status on some areas of our country that are best left undisturbed. When America set aside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, we called it a "refuge" for a reason," he said.

McCain's plan would let individual states decide whether to explore drilling possibilities.

According to his campaign, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama wants to invest $150 billion over the next 10 years to establish a green energy sector, create a national low-carbon fuel standard to ensure that the fuel is more efficient, and invest in clean energies like solar, wind and biodiesel.

New drilling already could be in the works 50 miles off the Florida coast -- by Cubans, not Americans, with help from China and other allies. A rich undersea oil field stretches into Cuban waters near the Florida Keys.

"The people I represent can't understand how we can possibly let China end up with rights to our oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico because we say we're not going to do it and they say, 'OK, we'll do it and we'll work with Cuba, if we have to, to do it,' " said U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tennessee. "That's really asinine."

CNN's Ed Henry, Richard Greene, Brianna Keilar, Hussein Saddique and Ali Velshi contributed to this report.

All AboutOil Production and Refining • Oil Prices • Environmental Policy • Cuba


Links referenced within this article

recoverable oil
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Oi ... d_Refining
Watch Bush make a case for new drilling »
#cnnSTCVideo
Map: See where drilling is and isn't allowed »
#cnnSTCOther1
iReport.com: Is drilling the best option?
http://www.ireport.com/ir-topic-stories ... icId=36826
priced
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Oil_Prices
Watch interests compete over oil »
#cnnSTCVideo
Watch McCain state his new position on drilling »
#cnnSTCVideo
ecosystems
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/En ... tal_Policy
Cuban
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Cuba
Oil Production and Refining
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Oi ... d_Refining
Oil Prices
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Oil_Prices
Environmental Policy
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/En ... tal_Policy
Cuba
http://topics.edition.cnn.com/topics/Cuba


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Originally Posted by USPatriot

I agree with the Dems on this one.

IF the oil co. would write it in their own blood guaranteeing $2.00 a gallon gas if we allowed them more oil drilling rights then I would say ok but I will not agree to make them richer off of land which belongs to all of us while we still pay outrageous prices at the gas pumps.

NO I will not be part of their scheme for more profits while we all suffer and I hope Americans can see their deception for what it is.Besides do you really think Bush would do anything to help us ?

The oil companies have nothing to do with price.They already pay over44% of their profits to the gov.They employ thousands of people not to mention the amount of stock people like you and me have invested in their company,many without even knowing it.The Dems have not allowed drilling or refinerys being built for over 30 years.THI IS WHY THE PRICE IS HIGH.More oil less price.Basic economics.If the price didnt go down to 2 dallars After we drill,just think what the price would be if we DIDNT drill.Just our announcing we would drill would cause the futures market to drop the amount per baral.My spelling sucks.There is no sceme going on here,dont buy into the socialist propaganda.