WASHINGTON — President Bush says if Congress doesn’t permit offshore drilling to increase U.S. oil supplies and possibly ease gasoline prices, lawmakers should not expect voters to support them in November.
In his Saturday radio address, Bush said experts claim the Outer Continental Shelf could eventually provide nearly 10 years’ worth of U.S. oil production. Yet while record fuel prices have focused more attention on increasing domestic energy production, experts also note that lifting the congressional ban on offshore drilling wouldn’t produce more oil for five to seven years.
Bush accused Democratic leaders in Congress of ignoring the public’s demand for relief from high energy prices.
“This is their final chance to take action before the . . . elections,” Bush said, noting that lawmakers soon will recess again to hit the campaign trail. “If members of Congress do not support the American people at the gas pump, then they should not expect the American people to support them at the ballot box.”
Congress broke for its August recess without reaching an agreement on how big a role expanded domestic oil and gas production should have in a broader energy bill. Lawmakers return Monday for a three-week session before leaving again to campaign.
There are glimmers of movement on an energy bill, which has eluded Congress all year, mostly over Democratic reluctance to open up more offshore areas to oil drilling.
House Democrats will push for an energy plan that includes limited expansion of offshore drilling, requires power plants to use alternative fuels and demands oil companies pay additional royalties, a Democratic congressman said Saturday.
In the Senate, a bipartisan group is putting together a compromise bill.
