The omnibus spending bill passed at the end of last year was a nightmare–it continued to fund Planned Parenthood and did nothing to end ObamaCare. It spent much more than we needed to spend, and generally was not an economically sound bill. Well, there was one good thing in that bill–the restriction on shipping American oil overseas was lifted. This will help our balance of trade and will bring income to American oil. Unfortunately, this move comes as the price of oil may spike due to unrest in the Middle East. That will mean more money for oil producers, but a burden on American consumers. However, I don’t think the exporting of oil will be responsible for the price increase–oil is a worldwide commodity–our exporting it should not have little impact on the price we pay here.

Yesterday The Daily Caller reported:

The first crude oil shipment exported from the United States, after a 40 year ban, left from Corpus Christi, Texas last Thursday.

NuStar Energy and ConocoPhillips loaded a vessel with light crude oil pumped from the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas at NuStar’s North Beach Terminal at Port Corpus Christi. The crude is to be sold to the international trading company Vitol.

…The original crude oil export ban was put into effect during the 1970’s in the midst of the Arab Oil Embargo, which triggered gas rationing and fuel spikes at the pump for the American driver.

Increasing our domestic fuel production, increasing our exports, and cutting government spending would result in a stronger economy and less unemployment for Americans. Lifting the export ban was a good idea.