Clyburn attacks GOP on oil drilling

House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the activities of a handful of House Republicans on the House Floor today.

 “After nearly eight years of House Republicans rubber-stamping policies of the oil men in the White House that were hand-tailored by and for big oil, Americans are suffering under over $4-a gallon gas.  Not only do these Republicans refuse to take responsibility for the failed energy policies of the past, but they are pushing the same old ‘drill only’ plan that will do nothing to bring down gas prices in the near-term.  At least they’re recycling.

“The Bush Administration’s own Energy Department has reported that repealing the offshore drilling ban today won’t produce oil or gas until 2017 and would have no impact on prices before 2030.

“The Republican ‘drill only’ plan doesn’t work, and they’ve stood in the way of comprehensive legislation that would increase supply, reduce prices, protect consumers and transition

America

to a clean, renewable energy-independent future.

“Before we adjourned, Republicans blocked several bills that would have done something to address high gas prices in the near-term—drawing down oil from the nation’s own stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; curbing speculation in the energy markets; expanding drilling in Alaska; and ‘Use it or Lose it,’ legislation requiring energy companies to use the 68 million acres of taxpayer-owned land for which they already have drilling permits or allow others to drill on them. Furthermore, they’ve stood against legislation to crack down on price gouging, invest in renewable energy, establish the first new vehicle efficiency standards in 32 years, and repeal taxpayer subsidies for major oil companies that are making record profits. 

 “I hope that when we return in September Republicans will stop obstructing efforts to address skyrocketing gas prices and end

America

’s dependence on foreign oil.”

Comments

[Kevin]

I'm not interested in bringing down the price of oil in the short term. Stop dodging the issue with fixes that make the headlines but don't do anything about our long term problem. No wonder Americans have a dismal approval rate of the congress. They have done nothing for the average citizen and then give themselves a 5-week vacation to boot.

[Kevin]

I'm not interested in bringing down the price of oil in the short term. Stop dodging the issue with fixes that make the headlines but don't do anything about our long term problem. No wonder Americans have a dismal approval rate of the congress. They have done nothing for the average citizen and then give themselves a 5-week vacation to boot.

[Kevin]

I'm not interested in bringing down the price of oil in the short term. Stop dodging the issue with fixes that make the headlines but don't do anything about our long term problem. No wonder Americans have a dismal approval rate of the congress. They have done nothing for the average citizen and then give themselves a 5-week vacation to boot.

[Sean]

Clyburn is awful. He needs to stop dodging questions... how in the world did he become majority leader?

[Sean]

Clyburn is awful. He needs to stop dodging questions... how in the world did he become majority leader?

[zeke]

Typical liberal socialist demogog! All the dems want to do is socialize everything in the USA, falsely believing they can do what no other socialist, communist, marxist, fascist government has been able to do! It is time for the voters to wake up and throw these socialists out of office and put in conservative constitutionalist instead!

[ch mueller]

I oppose the oil drilling also-the fact remains clear that offshore oil drilling would not have an effect on gas prices for quite some time. The oil produced would go on the world market at whatever price, not to US, just as the Alaskan Oil primarily has gone to world markets instead of going to where politicians said at the time- to US. Also, any issues coming up during the lame duck session of congress this year will have devastating results to US citizens.

[tupac]

In case you didn't notice, Mr. Clyborn, oil prices began to drop immediately after President Bush lifted the executive order to drill off of the coast. It is not a solution but it does cause lower oil prices in the short term.

[Tom]

Hum, lets see. I own a business and know that my product in the ground and all I have to do is sign a lease to extract my "money"? Gee, seems simple enough! However, I survey the leased ground and discover the money in the ground will not cover my expenses, plus it take over 10 years to get approval from the government! Wow, sounds like a plan. Don't tell me that "Big Oil" wouldn't take advantage of what is already there if it had potential.

But I have a better idea, lets tax anything over 10% of the "Big Oil's" profit. This way they can turn around and charge me more for gas so the can recapture the money they lost on the profit's taxed. My apologies to the shareholders of these oil companies. The government wants to take your investment.

Nuclear, wind, hydrogen, whatever it take's; continue to develop the technology. Plus drill offshore! Seems like a no brainer to me.

[Wayne]

It is just utterly ridiculous that the Democratic leadership will not even allow a vote on the issue. The dems seem to forget what happened when Bush repealed the executive order on drilling. The price immediately went down! If Congress would vote, and repeal the ban on drilling and actually let drilling begin, it "will" have an immediate effect on prices. But the dems will not acknowledge that. All this BS bickering is doing nothing for the American people but making things worse. But that is typical of Congress. If they want alternative energy, that's fine, we need it, but it needs to be fixed "now" and just the mention of new drilling will lower the price of oil.

[Philip Branton]

James "GRAND MASTER FALSH" Clyburn......YOU ARE an UNBECOMING South Carolinian !!

We as a STATE need to tap ALL FORMS OF ENERGY ....ALL !

COASTAL WINDFARMS using www.selsam.com windturbines and GE turbines on OUR upstate PEAKS !
OFFSHORE DRILLING for ALL ENERGY...OIL OR GAS !!
BIOFUEL form ALGAE FARMS from VERTIGRO
NUCLEAR from the 34 tons of fuel in AIKEN...!!

ALL FORMS......NOW ! YOU are keeping US ALL SLAVES .... MASTER !!

[Weston Brazell]

If big oil starts drilling offshore for oil it will lower the price of sweet crud. However, if they were told to drill on the 68 million acres of land where they have leases the cost would be more than it is worth or that is what we are told. Pass a bill that states that the oil removed from offshore drilling can only be sold to the Americans and at a 5.5% GPM and the hub bub about offshore drilling will instantly die. Congress needs to pass a bill that states that when we have enough technology to produce and use alternative energy sorces Then oil companies can drill offshore if they want.

Post a 10 billion dollar bounty for the company that builds a car that gets at least 100 miles to the gallon. Then there would be a race by every car manufacturer in the world to produce it (my openion is that it would be on the market within at the most 1 year.

Dems and the GOP both are just telling us what they think we want to hear. If they passed a bill that states that no politician can make over 20% above poverty level you would have government of the people and by the people. I know of people that go to college just to get a degree in Political Science just so they can be politicians. Then you would have them fighting for the positions as judges and police. Then a person charged with a crime could actually get the trial that he or she is constitutionally guarenteed.

[sj]

Clyburn's only concern is his bridge to no where and is nothing but a self serving individual and how he can only help his own and not what's best for South Carolina