Conservatives calling for more American oil production said Tuesday that Democratic insistence on extending the ban on drilling in the U.S. could result in a government shutdown.
“The time to drill is now, and people in Colorado are really feeling the pressure and the need to take action,” said Jim Pfaff, Colorado director of Americans for Prosperity.
The Coalition for Conservative Majority and Americans for Prosperity said foreign energy dependence is draining the economy and jeopardizing American security.
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Republicans in Congress would not accept an appropriation bill that includes an extension of the ban on drilling off American shores and for Colorado oil shale.
Republicans, he said, don’t want a showdown over the budget, but drilling can no longer be postponed while alternative energy sources are developed.
“We need to take the ban off, and we don’t need to compromise on that issue,” he said.
Producing more oil in America now will reduce energy prices, make the U.S. less dependent on oil producing nations in South America the Middle East, DeMint said.
Democrats, he said, are setting up a potential showdown over funding by refusing to let the drilling ban expire. Republicans have warned Democratic congressional leaders they aren’t prepared to back down.
“The only people who can shut down the government,” DeMint said, “is Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi.”
