Ted Cruz causes headaches for Republican senators with repeal of oil export ban

Examiner ^ | January 18, 2015

[SoConPubbie]

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is apparently causing headaches for his fellow Republican senators once again by pushing what many consider a sensible policy at what some call an inopportune time, according to a Sunday story in the Washington Examiner. Instead of repealing Obamacare or curtailing immigration, Cruz is proposing an amendment to the Keystone XL Pipeline authorization bill that would lift the 39-year ban on crude oil exports. The question, which many Republican senators have, is this the right time and is Keystone XL the right vehicle?

As has previously been the case, Cruz has the facts on his side. The Wall Street Journal points out that lifting the ban would likely increase the supply of crude on the world market, thus lowering its price. American refiners do not have enough capacity to process light, sweet crude. Opening up world markets to American oil would provide an incentive for American producers to drill.

However, a widespread public perception exists that allowing oil into the world markets would drive up the cost of petroleum products in the United States. That fact is causing Republican senators to get anxious about ending the ban. Indeed polling data exists that suggest that the public overwhelmingly oppose lifting the ban.

“Sixty-nine percent of Americans ‘somewhat’ or ‘strongly’ oppose sending more oil and natural gas abroad, according to a poll of 1,101 likely voters in the 2016 elections released Thursday by left-leaning think tank Center for American Progress. On top of that, 71 percent of respondents — including 69 percent of Republicans — thought ending the oil export ban ‘would only increase gas prices here at home while making oil companies richer.’”

[thackney]

Are you talking about the Oxnard, CA refinery that was owned by Tenby?

A couple lists to help find if not:

http://www.eia.gov/petroleum/refinerycapacity/table13.pdf

http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/petroleum/refinery_history.html

[dalereed]

Could be, it’s been a lot of years.

I used to do construction work for all the So California oil companies but I closed the business over 20 years ago and retired and have been out of touch.

If so, it’s stil sitting there unused.

It was built to refine the oil from the Santa Barbara channel.

Of course all new wells have been shut down there except for some new ones to stop natural flow and any profit from those has to be paid to environmental groups!

[SunkenCiv]

That’s an odd claim, considering YOU DID THE SAME THING.