Gas prices across America have reached an historical high. And the transparent posturing by the Democrat-controlled Congress has reached an hysterical low.
In the past several weeks, the Hard Left has proffered two “solutions” to the American people: “cap-and-trade” and a “windfall profits tax.”
In short, the Democrat solution for a dearth of energy is to ration scarcity.
And the one idea they haven’t hit upon—the only idea that actually makes any long or, for that matter, short-term sense—is simply to lift the ban on offshore drilling.
Just this week, six courageous members of the House of Representatives supported an amendment to allow offshore drilling to immediately begin anew. Unfortunately, they were stopped cold by Democrats in a 9-6 vote in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Other Related Agencies.
Fortunately for hard-working taxpayers, however, these Heroes of the House are holding their ground, even planning to move on the offense, by taking the amendment to the full House Appropriations Subcommittee. Even if the measure were to pass the House, however, it is virtually guaranteed to die in the Democrat-controlled Senate. A similar measure passed by the House in 2006 was later blocked by Senate Democrats.
And that’s a shame.
The US Mineral Service’s projects 86 billion barrels lying dormant just off of U.S. shores. The United States consumes a little less than 21 million barrels a day. Do the math, and you get enough low-cost oil to last U.S. consumers just over 11 years—and that’s assuming zero imports. It is a sad fact of the matter that such a ready and available solution is being suppressed by environmentalist-funded politicians.
Now, some might say that it would take years for the offshore oil to impact domestic prices. But, the results might be quicker than expected. While it will take some time to get the oil fields up and running, the mere threat of more competition may cause OPEC and other oil-producing nations to begin producing more oil, thus lowering prices. And speculators would anticipate the increased production hitting the markets and beginning betting the price to come down on the futures markets.
The good news for consumers in all this is that the debate over oil will not likely go away soon. This week, President Bush joined the growing chorus calling for more domestic oil exploration, to reduce American dependence on foreign oil. Among presidential candidates, Senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, opposes drilling offshore. But Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, supports at least some drilling.
The solution is obvious. America’s current economic morass may look entirely different had the original offshore drilling ban had not been enacted.
Now, it’s time for the members of Congress to put a sense of history before hysterics and rectify the wrongs that have plunged us into the oil abyss.
ALG Perspective: ALG News would like to thank the Six Heroes for standing up and saying what needs to be said. They are:
Todd Tiahrt (R-KS), Ranking Member
John E. Peterson (R-PA) (amendment sponsor)
Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO)
Virgil H. Goode, Jr. (R-VA)
Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Congressional Democrats must stop hiding behind the enviro-lobby, and instead provide meaningful solutions to America’s problems.
Starting with drilling in our own backyard.
