Posted on 07/14/2008 6:59:42 PM PDT by Delacon
Rising energy prices have prompted President George to rescind an executive order enacted by his father and extended by President Bill Clinton to ban offshore drilling.
“The time for action is now,” President George W. Bush said in a Rose Garden speech Monday afternoon.
A memorandum signed by the President rescinds former President George H.W. Bush’s 1990 executive order drafted in response to pressure from the environmental lobby after a 3 million gallon oil spill off the coast of California in 1969. The current President Bush argued “advances in technology have made it possible to have the oil production out of sight, protect habitats and protect against oil spills.”
Before energy producers are permitted to explore offshore, however, Congress must lift their own legislative ban against drilling off the shores of California, Florida and Virginia that has been in place since 1981. Congress will have an opportunity to do so when it returns from August recess. The ban must be renewed each year and is scheduled to expire on September 30, unless Congress takes action to keep it in place.
Bush called on Democrat-controlled Congress to follow suit. “The ball is squarely in Congress’s court,” he said. “Democratic leaders can show they have finally seen the frustration of the American people by demanding the action I have taken today.”
Regardless of congressional jockeying, the President’s announcement may hurt Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who opposes offshore drilling, and boost GOP presidential candidate John McCain, who supports it.
“I hope that, as he has on several other issues, that Sen. Obama will change his position and now support offshore oil drilling,” McCain told reporters at a press availability in Phoenix, Arizona on Monday.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has said repeatedly on the campaign trail that he does not believe it would have any impact on current energy prices.
McCain shot down that idea. If we can show that we have significant oil reserves off our coasts, that will clearly affect the futures market and affect the price of oil,” he said.
Like many other Democrats, Obama would rather open the Strategic Energy Reserve and divert more federal dollars to alternative energy than allow offshore drilling.
"Before energy producers are permitted to explore offshore, however, Congress must lift their own legislative ban against drilling off the shores of California, Florida and Virginia that has been in place since 1981. Congress will have an opportunity to do so when it returns from August recess. The ban must be renewed each year and is scheduled to expire on September 30, unless Congress takes action to keep it in place."
Call your representatives.
The time for action was years ago.
ping
SPREAD THE WORD
TELL YOUR FRIENDS FAMILY NEIGHBORS COWORKERS
CONTACT CONGRESS TUESDAY JULY 15TH
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
THIS IS NOT A PARTISIAN PROBLEM, IT IS AN AMERICAN PROBLEM
LETS FLOOD CONGRESS TOMORROW JULY 15TH
IF UNSURE WHO TO CONTACT WWW.VISI.COM/JUN/CONGRESS
Good one. ;-)
Unfortunately we haven't had any real leadership in the elected offices of Federal Government for a long time now. They, both sides of the aisle and the POTUS for the most part have been totally reactionary, acting only upon crises and much of their actions have only exacerbated the problems.
It is time to clear them all out - Republicats and Democans!
Executive Orders are not "enacted." They are not pieces of legislation. Instead, they are issued by the nation's chief executive and can be rescinded or overriden at will by any future president. Only tradition keeps most presidents from rescinding previous EO's.
The other 'read my lips' Bush.
Yes, but years from now, we’ll wish we’d drilled today.
We have to look ahead.
No kidding. It only took GWB 7 1/2 years to get this done.
Maybe his last week in office he'll call for a larger military so we don't have to send the same guys to Iraq or Afghanistan 3 or more times.
I'm not holding my breath.
Yep, about 30 years ago, but, was our banking (monetary) system collapsing thirty years ago? Nope. Ko-inkidink? I think not.
Timing is EVERYTHING!
p.s. Lehman Brothers is next.
p.s.s. You saw it first on FR.
Yes, we have. I am a mental midget compared to these highly educated 'public servants', those that were elected to be Statesmen and leaders of the Free Republic. They are leading us down their chosen path in their lust for power.
1Tim.6 [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
We also will suffer the sorrows of their greed; for freedom is never free.
/soapbox...please enjoy the rest of your evening.
You hatebush clowns have been screaming for weeks for this and when he does it its too little too late.
At a time we absolutely need unity, you idiots have to make your soapbox statements to inflate your miniscule egos. Get Lost, we don’t need or want you.
Pray for W and Our Troops
It just never ends, does it? ^5 2 U
It is a partisan problem. The dummycraps are the problem.
On the outside chance that the dim Dems are right and it takes 10 years to get oil “in the pipeline” (their idiotic words), it is going to take longer than that to get any real alternatives for transportation on line. We still come out ahead.
I kinda liked your soapbox for you nailed what motivates “them” on the head.
I do, but this time I think I'll add a prayer in that Pelosi and Reid's ridiculous statements after Bush's action will Cost. Them. Their. Jobs!
This country is tired of hearing that same old garbage.
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