I’m having a very difficult time following the actions of most of Congress in regards to (1) finding new energy sources, and (2) decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. I was watching the national morning news today and listened to Illinois Representative Jan Shakowksy blatantly lie to the American public about what the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the Democrats are doing to address both of these issues. Ms. Shakowsky said the Republican minority “squandered an opportunity to responsibly increase domestic oil production and lower energy prices” by defeating a bill that would allow for drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. What??? Does she think we’re all just stupid? I guess the obvious answer to that question is, “Yes, she does.”
The National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska already has a history of over 100 years of oil exploration. And the Bureau of Land Management currently administers more than 300 Federal oil and gas leases on those 23 million acres. So, what’s the problem? Well, oil exploration has yielded no results – no oil – in this region according to studies released last week. As a matter of fact, every major oil company IN THE WORLD has passed on these leases because they realize there is no potential for production. They might as well be drilling in my backyard.
So why would the Congress play this game? Why would the Congress need to pass a bill to allow drilling in a place where oil companies already have the right to drill? Well, it doesn’t. But it sure sounds good to say “We tried to pass a bill that would help Americans but didn’t get the support we needed.”
Meanwhile, while the price per barrel of crude oil has gone down nearly $16 this week, Democrats have decided that a “gas tax holiday” wouldn’t be wise. I agree. I don’t think they should manipulate the price of gas at the pumps by suspending the tax for a couple of months. But this is the kicker – they have also decided that it might be a good idea to INCREASE gas taxes so they can put more money in the highway fund! We are already paying record prices for gas and it has affected even the most basic items (bread is up 38%, milk up 21%, eggs up 68%, gas up 40%,etc). This is the perfect time for a tax increase, don’t you think? Let’s just see how much more money they can sqeeze out of a financially-strapped family! In the first half of this year, bankruptcies are up 30%. And all the government can think of is playing games with oil and raising our taxes.
I’m not sure where you stand on this issue, but I’d like someone in the government to just tell me the truth now and then and quit playing politics. Representative Jan Shakowsky lied to all of us this morning for no other reason but to build the political power of her party and her office. She should be ashamed. They all should be ashamed.