INHOFE ADMONISHES MAJORITY LEADERSHIP FOR FAILURE TO ADDRESS $4+ GAS PRICES
“Senate Democrats used every procedural trick in the book in an attempt to change the subject”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today hammered Democrats for their failure to address the number one issue facing American families: soaring energy prices.
“As we head into a five-week break, gas prices continue to harm the American people. There has been no response to our nation’s demands for increased domestic energy supply,” Senator Inhofe said. “Rather than work to pass common sense legislation to increase American energy production, Senate Democrats used every procedural trick in the book in an attempt to change the subject, including a move to invoke support for the troops to change the subject, even though they had no intention to consider the National Defense Authorization Bill before adjourning. Simply put, Democrats have no answers for addressing soaring energy costs and refused to allow Republicans to bring forward legislation that would allow American energy production to get back underway.
“The question must be asked: Why should producing America's own resources be a partisan issue? It shouldn't be, but it is. The Democrats in Congress refuse to increase our supply of energy... and gas prices keep rising. Over the past several weeks, President Bush and Congressional Republicans have repeatedly called on Democratic leadership to act on bringing down gasoline prices by increasing America’s energy production by expanding exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), opening ANWR, developing America's oil shales, and expanding refining capacity. Yet at each turn, Democrats refused to even debate the issues.
“Now is not the time for politics as usual: now is the time for common sense solutions. Drawing upon my home state of Oklahoma’s leadership in oil and gas production, I have brought forward legislation to increase American energy supply. Yesterday, I introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Marginal Well Production Preservation and Enhancement Act with Congressman Boren to ensure that the nation’s policies recognize and reflect the economic importance of marginal well production. To encourage the use of natural gas as a transportation fuel, in mid-July I introduced the Drive America on Natural Gas Act which encourages auto manufacturers to produce bi-fuel vehicles, streamlines EPA’s emissions certifications, and establishes a natural gas vehicle research program. The promise of natural gas as a mainstream transportation fuel is achievable today -- not 15 or 20 years from now.”
#
INHOFE/BOREN INTRODUCE BI-PARTISAN “MARGINAL WELL PRODUCTION PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT ACT” WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, today introduced with Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK), the Marginal Well Production Preservation and Enhancement Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill ensures that the nation’s policies recognize and reflect the economic importance of marginal well production. The average marginal well produces less than 2.2 barrels of oil per day.
INHOFE LANDS A 1-2 PUNCH FOR LOWER FUEL PRICES AND BETTER ROADS WASHINGTON, DC - Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, joined fellow GOP Senators and members of the U.S. trucking industry to call for lower gas prices to help truckers ship goods, met with Oklahoma business leader Dan Ustian, President and CEO of NAVISTAR to discuss diesel prices, and pressed Federal Highway Administrator nominee Thomas J. Madison, Jr. to help adopt a highway and energy policy to lower gas and diesel prices.
Inhofe Delivers Senate Floor Speech On The Need To Increase American Energy Production – July 23, 2008 Excerpt: "The question must be asked: Why should producing America's own resources be a partisan issue? It shouldn't be, but it is. The Democrats in Congress refuse to increase our supply of energy... and gas prices keep rising. Last month President Bush called on Congressional Democratic leaders to act on a four-point plan to bring down gasoline prices and increase America's oil and gas production. The President's four points correctly focus on expanding exploration of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), opening ANWR, developing America's oil shales, and expanding refining capacity.”
Democrats Attempt to Shut Down Energy Debate Fails – July 25, 2008 Excerpt: "Today's vote shows that Republicans are willing to stand up and fight to ensure the Senate stays focused on providing solutions to rising energy prices," Senator Inhofe said. "When Democrats allow the Senate to reopen for business on the issue of bringing down energy costs, I am ready to put forward amendments to encourage the development of natural gas vehicles, prolong the feasibility and production from our marginal oil and gas wells, address the market distorting subsidization of fuels in other countries, and repeal federal prohibitions on importing fuels from the Canadian oil sands…Republicans in the Senate are serious about providing solutions to rising energy costs. I will continue to stand with my Republican colleagues to ensure the Senate holds a fair and open debate on the need to increase energy supplies. I believe a large majority of Senators will vote in favor of amendments to open responsible access to America's plentiful energy resources. Democratic leadership knows this as well. That's why they're blocking a full and open debate."
Democrats Turn Out the Lights - July 23, 2008 Excerpt: "As American families continue to suffer from high gas prices, Democrats once again denied Senators the ability to debate and offer amendments addressing our crucial energy need, which proves they are not serious about addressing gasoline prices," Senator Inhofe said. "As the most important issue facing Congress, Democrats are dictating a closed process in an effort to deny votes on real solutions. We need to have votes on off-shore drilling; Rocky Mountain oil shales; promoting domestic natural gas as a transportation fuel; repealing section 526 of 2007’s energy bill – which would preserve America’s ability to import fuels from Canadian oil sands. America demands more from Congress." Read More...
Oklahoman Editorial: Pump Politics: Gas Prices Stay High As Senate Fiddles –July 28, 2008 Excerpt: It's the price at the pump, stupid! When Congress breaks for its August recess, their constituents likely will greet them with that phrase - or something like it. The high cost of gasoline is foremost on most peoples' minds…The Senate should be talking about big solutions to the big problem. One we like is Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe's proposal to help make compressed natural gas more readily available as a transportation fuel. But that's not on the Senate leadership's agenda. Neither is drilling offshore or in Alaska. Most Democrats are against adding new supply, but their excuses are having a harder time with the gasoline-buying public. Maybe some time at home next month with angry voters will open their ears.
Oklahoma Papers Agree: Time to Drill Offshore – July 17, 2008 Excerpt: The Tulsa World writes in an editorial today, “The Search,” that “President George W. Bush made the correct decision when he lifted the White House's 18-year ban on offshore drilling… No one wants the environment damaged. This work can be done safely. It could help in the long term, if only Congress had the good sense to act.” The Oklahoma, in a Wednesday, July 16 editorial “Energy Ante: Bush Dares Congress To Keep Saying No” writes: “Democrats reacted to President Bush's lifting of an executive ban on offshore oil drilling by vowing to keep in place congressional prohibitions dating to the 1980s. The debate over energy policy just keeps getting better and better. For years the Democratic Party has blocked efforts to significantly increase production of American sources of offshore oil and natural gas, citing potential danger to beaches in California and Florida and dismissing any new oil finds as too far in the future to help U.S. energy needs. Both arguments have less persuasive steam with the current oil prices. Certainly, if drilling offshore had gotten under way a decade or more ago — instead of being stymied — Americans know it would be online now and helping to absorb some of the current price increase.”
Inhofe Op-Ed: Natural Gas Production Essential To Oklahoma And The Country (The Journal Record)
Inhofe Op-Ed: Filling Up America's Energy Tank (Ada Evening News)
Inhofe Op-Ed: America's Carbon Policy (Tulsa World)
Inhofe Op-Ed Dems Running on Empty (Human Events) ###
