Yesterday the New Orleans Times-Picayune posted a story about President Obama's announcement that he plans to expand domestic oil production.
The article reports:
"In his weekly radio address, the president also said he was directing the Department of Interior to hold annual lease sales in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve and to speed up the evaluation of potential oil and gas resources in the mid- and south-Atlantic and to develop new incentives for industry to tap unused leases on and offshore."
Before you break out the champagne, here are some comments from two Louisiana Congressman who are experienced in dealing with President Obama's energy policies:
"...Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., who has been among the administration's severest critics on drilling issues.
""It's very encouraging to see the president pick up where he left off before the oil spill by expanding domestic production. That is exactly what we need to increase supply and create jobs," Landrieu said. "I'm also encouraged that this administration is finally going to grant lease extensions to the leases in the Gulf affected by the moratorium."
"But, she added, "drilling permits are still slow in coming. I urge the president to push his team to speed up the process."
"Sen. David Vitter, R-La., dismissed the president's moves as more tactical than meaningful.
""I'm afraid this will be all show and little or no substance," Vitter said. "He's clearly reacting to the price at the pump and trying to pre-empt and block our much bolder efforts in Congress as his election approaches. We all just need to keep pushing very hard -- keep the pressure up."
"A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, described Obama's initiatives as "not terribly substantial," but said that "the president just conceded what his party on Capitol Hill still denies: More American energy production will lower costs and create jobs.""
I am definitely skeptical about seeing increased domestic oil production during President Obama's administration. I am not the only person who is skeptical. Yesterday's Los Angeles Times reports:
""The president is finally admitting what Republicans have known all along -- that increasing the supply of American energy will help lower prices and create jobs," Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a written statement. "One weekend address announcing minor policy tinkering, while positive, does not erase the administration's long job-destroying record of locking up America's energy resources.""
Keep watching this. It will be interesting to see when and if permits get approved.
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