WASHINGTON — President Bush is accusing Democrats in Congress of blocking his energy proposals, saying they are partly to blame for high gasoline costs.
In his Saturday radio address, Bush urged Congress to lift its long-standing ban on offshore oil and gas drilling to increase U.S. energy production. Democrats have rejected the idea.
“This is a difficult time for many American families,” Bush said. “Rising gasoline prices and economic uncertainty can affect everything from what food parents put on the table to where they can go on vacation.”
Bush said offshore drilling could yield up to 18 billion barrels of oil over time, although it would take years for production to start. There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by Bush’s father in 1990.
