Credential Media finally notices after months of the issue being pushed hard. Reuters – House Republicans vow push on oil drilling
Congressional Republicans vowed on Thursday to make a major push for more U.S. oil and gas drilling and in the process force Democrats to cast difficult votes at a time of skyrocketing gasoline prices.
With the November congressional and presidential elections looming, Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives are blaming each other for rising energy costs and gasoline prices that are topping $4 a gallon.
Republicans cited Democratic opposition to opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and more offshore areas to oil and gas exploration and drilling.
House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio said Republicans would try to raise public awareness and force more votes on the issue. He said Republicans would back a comprehensive approach of more oil and gas drilling as well as energy conservation and moves toward alternative fuels supported by Democrats.
News for Reuters: this didn’t just happen on Thursday. They have been pushing for this for a long time. Matter of fact, the GOP has been pushing for this for decades, but Democrats keep blocking it. They are too beholden to their environmentalist fringe lobbyists.
Of course, the Democrats blame the oil companies for not drilling more of the areas that are allowed. Perhaps that is because those areas are not good ones. Instead, the Dems whine about use it or lose it, but, conveniently forget the facts.
And, then there is Nancy
“We cannot drill our way out of this,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California countered. Opening the wildlife refuge in Alaska would reduce U.S. gasoline prices by one penny per gallon, she said. She and other Democrats blame President George W. Bush’s energy policies for the gasoline price spike.
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“A barrel of oil now costs four times more than it did when President Bush took office,” Pelosi said. “Two oil men in the White House, cost of oil four times higher. Price at the pump: $4 a gallon.”
And your plan is, Nancy? Hello? Nance? Bueller? It’s worth repeating that the price of gas was the same in Jan 2007 as it was in Jan 2006: $2.20. Now it is $4+. We cannot afford the Pelosi Premium. Her Democrat led House has done nothing to lower energy prices nor increase our supplies. No drilling allowed, no new refineries allowed, no nuclear power plants allowed. No mention of any sorts of new, viable, sensible alternatives to oil, coal, and nuclear.
In his weekly press briefing with reporters this morning, House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) took the opportunity to highlight Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) dismal voting record on the issue of American energy production. While Boehner has voted 46 times in the past 18 years to increase the production of American-made energy, Speaker Pelosi has only done so twice. To view their complete voting record, click here.
The American people deserve to know why they are paying an average of $4.06 per gallon for gasoline today. One glance at Speaker Pelosi’s voting record makes it clear why. She and her Democratic colleagues have put up numerous roadblocks on America’s path to energy independence – roadblocks that have left our nation at the mercy of foreign competitors. Since Democrats took control of Congress in January 2007, the American people have seen gas prices skyrocket 74% and they can’t afford to keep paying this Pelosi Premium.
and
Democrats in Congress are getting pummeled on the issue of gas prices these days. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) admitted he is just fine with higher gas prices, and not only have congressional Democrats blocked efforts to lower them, they have proposed higher gas taxes that will make the struggles of families and small businesses even worse. A story in The Hill highlights Republicans’ efforts to fight back and showcase their energy plan to lower gas prices
I hope Senator McCain is going to jump in to this issue, and become more vocal about highlighting that it is Democrats who are the ones blocking America’s ability to increase its own supply of energy.Â
Between 2000 AND 2006 Democrats had virtually no power in Washington they could not block any legislation. Americans know that we are not going to be able to drill our way out of the problem. They know that this oil will be sold to the world market just like all the rest of the world’s oil that is not nationalized. Unless you want to nationalize the oil coming from public land we are not going to have lower gas prices.
granted, the oil will be sold on the world market, however, it would be like the Saudis ramping up production 300% and flooding the market. If you don’t think there would be an impact on the price of a barrel of oil, you’re kidding yourself.
As far as not being able to push the legislation from 2000 to 2006, you are right, the blame there lies as much with Republicans as it does with Democrats. With a one vote majority in the Senate the republicans could have pushed ANWAR more aggressively if they wanted to. The problem lies with the RINOs and not the Republican Party as a whole.
I can’t really add much to what manbearpig wrote, but, the GOP did authorized drilling in ANWR, and Clinton veto’d it.
But, John, the minority party does have power. At the least, they can block legislation. Both parties play this game.
Exxon Ryan meets Jed Clampitt? Who are these left-wing socialist wikipediaites that think they know it OIL? SUPPLY vs. DEMAND and last oil refinery built was in 1976 in Yuma Arizona… But Ryan’s CARIBOU are safe. PAVE THE WHALE & SCREW THE CARIBOU!!!