Dems Challenge Bush on Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling

CNSNews ^ | June 20, 2008 | Josiah Ryan

[Mr. Mojo]

(CNSNews.com) - President's Bush's call on Wednesday for Congress to lift its 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling is an "example of typical Bush White House politics," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) told Cybercast News Service Thursday.

Other leading Democrats on Capitol Hill also said they were surprised that Bush has not yet rescinded the executive office ban on drilling, which was established by his father, President George H.W. Bush, in 1990.

"What the president is doing is unfair to the American people to indicate, 'We will let Congress do something about it,' " Reid said. "He has the authority to do it himself."

"This is typical Bush White House politics. It's Orwellian," Reid added. "He has the power, with the signing of a pen, to release more options for offshore drilling -- he has the power to do this."

Congress imposed a moratorium on offshore drilling in 1981 and has extended it annually each year for all coastal waters, except for parts of the Gulf of Mexico and some waters off the coast of Alaska.

In 1990, the elder Bush also implemented an executive ban, which was extended by President Clinton, to last until June 2012. If the current president were to rescind that executive order, it would be a symbolic move because the congressional moratorium would still disallow further drilling.

Several other Democrats suggested the president should rescind his father's executive order before calling on Congress to remove its moratorium.

House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y) said he finds it "strange" that the president would maintain the executive order while telling Congress to lift the ban.

"It's very difficult for me to understand the thinking of the president," Rangel told Cybercast News Service.

House Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), meanwhile, said the president has been back and forth on this issue, but that he should "probably" remove the executive order before directing Congress to eliminate their law.

But Sen. John Isakson (R-Ga.) told Cybercast News Service that while it would be "appropriate" for the president to rescind the executive order, the real burden is on Congress.

"He [Bush] is encouraging Congress to do it because that, in fact, vacates the current pending restriction on exploration," Isakson said. "We are sitting on a ham sandwich starving to death. There should not be a source available to us that we are not enhancing."

[tobyhill]

There's actually a congressional prohibition also on off-shore drilling. Congress wants Bush to sign his executive order first lifting the ban but then do nothing themselves on their end but have another political maneuver that allows them to claim that “big oil” really doesn't want to drill.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

My God, I hate the stupid political games that this do-nothing Congress plays.

Reid and Pres. Bush both know that both things need to happen in order to get anything done: the Congressional moratorium needs to be lifted, and the executive order needs to be rescinded. So now it’s a game of “you go first.” Bush is pushing Congress to act, and Congress is being obstructionist by spinning it to make it seem that it is solely up to Bush himself to act.

I say go ahead and rescind the exec. order, Mr. Bush. Then loudly announce that since this has been done, the only remaining obstacle to offshore drilling is Congress. The American people want this, and Congress is THE sole obstacle. Keep saying it. Over and over.

[doubled]

Let's see. Bush has an EO written up, put in front of him and signs it. That should take no more than a week allowing for bureaucratic time. Congress writes a bill goes to subcommittee, maybe gets out, goes to full committee, maybe gets out, goes to the floor, allowed to be called up by Reid or Pelosi, debated, voted on, goes to the other house, repeat, goes to the joint committee for rewrite, goes back to both houses to be debated and voted on. With this being an election year at least three recesses in this process. Yeah, I can see who is on the critical path here.

[Las Vegas Ron]

You are right the President is using the right strategery....

Personally, I'm fed up with political strategies and wish just for once our so called leaders would would put the interest of the American people first. That would be an interesting strategie, no?

I know thats not how the game is played and thats the problem, its all a game

[B Knotts]

There are two bans: a law, passed by Congress, and an executive order, decreed by the president. The president is calling on Congress to repeal the law that bans offshore drilling, while maintaining the executive order that bans offshore drilling. This undermines his credibility. He should withdraw the executive order today.

[onedoug]

How about you “ALL” get on the stick.

[HappyinAZ]

Actually I think Bush is correct on this one: he said as much a week or so ago...he wants Congress (i.e.the Dems) to be saddled with this decision.

A) I’m pretty sure he can only do part of it...and B) he wants them to look dumb/dumber for their inaction.

If nothing happens...he’ll do it before his term expires...but he want them to stew in their own juices for a while!

[Ford4000]

I expect to see Rat poll numbers start dropping about the time the seasonal heating oil deliveries start.

[mysterio]

If he’s posturing, he’ll keep after congress on it. If he’s serious, he’ll sign the order and do it himself.

[mysterio]

he wants Congress (i.e.the Dems) to be saddled with this decision.

I'm sorry, but little political games are going to accomplish nothing. Issue the order and let them sue to try and stop him.

[Non-Sequitur]

Call their bluff and rescind the Executive Order. Then they won’t have any excuses.

[Sig Sauer P220]

Dimwits putting up road blocks for political gain. They want to see the economy destroyed.

[Prokopton]

The Dems are just laying a trap. If Bush rescinded the executive order they would have a ready made political club with which they could beat the Republican party the whole election cycle. Bush is doing it the right way, letting the public put pressure on their representatives in congress to do something.

Nonsense. The people are already telling everyone, including the President, what side they're on. Bush is too dense to listen to the people and do what's right and lead, for a change. This "I'll do what's right if the Congress does" attitude is childish and displays his weakness.

Another major opportunity missed.

[McGruff]

Ignoring the facts Reid made Bush look like a fool here.

“What the president is doing is unfair to the American people to indicate, ‘We will let Congress do something about it,’ “ Reid said. “He has the authority to do it himself.”

“This is typical Bush White House politics. It's Orwellian,” Reid added. “He has the power, with the signing of a pen, to release more options for offshore drilling — he has the power to do this.”

Bush should slam the ball back into Reid's court by rescinding the ban today. Sadly he won't. He'll disappear into the White House and Reid will get the last word in most voter's feeble minds.

[Niteranger68]

Everyone keep in mind that those who would invest in OSD if it were allowed need assurances that it will not be rebanned in the near future. This needs to be done in a way that makes it very slow and very hard to reverse. Otherwise, no entity will sink their money into it.

[Ingtar]

There are two bans...

Three, actually. All three of the states mentioned by McCain have their own bans in place.

[pennboricua]

i hope that he is giving them til the next vacation July 4th,if they have not acted yet, he should during that recess hold a press conference, and make it clear that he is recinding the executive ban placed on drilling by Clinton, he is doing this because the American people deserve independence from the current tyrannical rulers and dictators,
na wont nappen

[pennboricua]

correction na won’t happen

[rob777]

"The Dems are just laying a trap. If Bush rescinded the executive order they would have a ready made political club with which they could beat the Republican party the whole election cycle. Bush is doing it the right way, letting the public put pressure on their representatives in congress to do something."


The trap is for themselves, as a majority of the American public support domestic drilling. If Bush was smart he would lift the ban and then say "Now what is your excuse?"

[Cyber Liberty]

"What the president is doing is unfair to the American people to indicate, 'We will let Congress do something about it,' " Reid said. "He has the authority to do it himself."

"This is typical Bush White House politics. It's Orwellian," Reid added. "He has the power, with the signing of a pen, to release more options for offshore drilling -- he has the power to do this."

Okay, now I must admit this has me scratching my head.