Republicans say the Obama administration's policies are contributing to skyrocketing gasoline prices – now at more than $4 per gallon throughout much of the country – and they have introduced legislation to reopen the nation's coasts to drilling.
This year will be the first year since 1958 that the federal government will not have sold a lease for offshore drilling, and Republicans say this is fueling skyrocketing prices at the pump.
Congress opened the nation's coasts to drilling the last time gas hit $4 per gallon back in 2008, but the Obama administration effectively reinstated the ban last year by placing the Alaskan, Atlantic and Pacific coasts off-limits to drilling, as well as Florida's west coast.
"We need to look at the actions of this administration, which are leading to more of a domestic shortage of energy production in this country – whether you are looking at the outer continental shelf or whether you are looking at offshore lease sales," said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash.
The chairman told WND that comments made by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar make it seem the administration has a political agenda behind its unwillingness to expand domestic oil drilling.
More than 12,000 jobs in the oil drilling sector have been lost as a direct result of the drilling moratorium the Obama administration imposed last May in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Despite the administration's announcement last October that it was lifting its drilling moratorium, little progress has been made in reopening the Gulf to drilling. Only 10 permits have been granted, while 40 projects remain stalled due to the administration's inaction. And since July 2010 only 49 shallow-water permits have been issued at an average of 4.9 permits per month, which lags far behind the historical average of 7.1 permits per month.
The administration needs to act in a timely manner to address the drilling permits that were in play when it imposed the moratorium to increase oil and gas supplies and reduce prices, Hastings said.
"We're going to try to change that through our committee and with Doc Hastings over at natural resources," House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton told WND. "We know it is a supply problem, and we cannot continue to say no to domestic production because only one thing happens – the prices are going to go up."
The oil industry today produces 100,000 barrels less per day than the Department of Energy predicted, and the department expects production in the Gulf of Mexico to drop by 240,000 barrels per day this year and by 200,000 per day in 2012.
More here
This year will be the first year since 1958 that the federal government will not have sold a lease for offshore drilling, and Republicans say this is fueling skyrocketing prices at the pump.
Congress opened the nation's coasts to drilling the last time gas hit $4 per gallon back in 2008, but the Obama administration effectively reinstated the ban last year by placing the Alaskan, Atlantic and Pacific coasts off-limits to drilling, as well as Florida's west coast.
"We need to look at the actions of this administration, which are leading to more of a domestic shortage of energy production in this country – whether you are looking at the outer continental shelf or whether you are looking at offshore lease sales," said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings, R-Wash.
The chairman told WND that comments made by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar make it seem the administration has a political agenda behind its unwillingness to expand domestic oil drilling.
More than 12,000 jobs in the oil drilling sector have been lost as a direct result of the drilling moratorium the Obama administration imposed last May in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
Despite the administration's announcement last October that it was lifting its drilling moratorium, little progress has been made in reopening the Gulf to drilling. Only 10 permits have been granted, while 40 projects remain stalled due to the administration's inaction. And since July 2010 only 49 shallow-water permits have been issued at an average of 4.9 permits per month, which lags far behind the historical average of 7.1 permits per month.
The administration needs to act in a timely manner to address the drilling permits that were in play when it imposed the moratorium to increase oil and gas supplies and reduce prices, Hastings said.
"We're going to try to change that through our committee and with Doc Hastings over at natural resources," House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton told WND. "We know it is a supply problem, and we cannot continue to say no to domestic production because only one thing happens – the prices are going to go up."
The oil industry today produces 100,000 barrels less per day than the Department of Energy predicted, and the department expects production in the Gulf of Mexico to drop by 240,000 barrels per day this year and by 200,000 per day in 2012.
More here
11 comments:
He is just doing what he said he would. The only way to get people out of their SUVs and promote his green energy policies. All this stuff is happening because the media chose to hide his past to get him elected. The man is a communist.
the left sounded like dummies when they said Bush caused high gas prices back in 07 and 08. Now the right sounds just as dumb.
I agree with 10:04 comment. Obama did say Gas and energy proces would rise under him and he expected gas to rise to Overseas costs of $9.00 to $12.00 a gallon.
When is someone going to start the impeachment proceedings? He is swiftly moving to shut USA down...
10:04 is right on!!!!!Obama WANTS high gas prices.
Joe, PLEASE allow comments from the "obama is the greatest man to have EVER lived" people so I can hear them explain how an American President stands by and WILLFULLY decides to withhold drilling leases while Americans, most of whom DON'T live in free housing, with free medical care for the whole family, free international travel, and vacations every six weeks, and also DIDN'T make over a million dollars last year, pay $50-120 to fill their gas tank up, once or TWICE a week. I suppose all the college wunderkinds who love obama so much aren't actually paying for these fill-ups, unless by paying for them you mean using mommy and daddy's credit card. This loser of a president has done more damage to our country than Warren Harding or Jimmy Carter. Now, during his administration, our national credit rating is getting downgraded! Thats Bush's fault, too, huh? What I really want to hear is a defense of his actions, not a comparison to some historical figure (Bush) or a rationalization of what someone else MADE him do....now bring it.
Isn't this great...The U.S. Export-Import Bank (an independent agency of the federal government) is planning a $2.84 BILLION loan for a massive project to EXPAND and upgrade an oil refinery in Cartagena, Columbia. The U.S. has not had a large oil refinery built since 1976. Can you imagine how many jobs that this money would create if we used it for a refinery here? Also, if OPEC thought that we would start building new refineries here the price of oil would plummet. But of course with this president the world knows he won't support drilling.
1146, right on...
Barry Soetoro works for the people who push the gas prices up.
Not the other way around.
He has no power - he is a figure head, a puppet if you will.
Obama wants high gas because the middle east sheiks earn the profits, and he is a middle eastern sheik. This is why we fought the revolution and the crusades, reinventing the wheel will be the real acid test for all of us when it comes to Sharia Law. Palin / Bush in 2013!!!!
gas tax is second only to personal income tax as a revenue source for the gov't. why wouldn't "they" push up the cost?
Ask yourself this question: Did your beloved George W. Bush open up the wells?
Answer:
Are you ready:
Answer is NO!!!!
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