Tennessee’s U.S. Senators were among the Republicans who applauded the President’s decision yesterday to lift a ban on offshore oil drilling. But the President’s action is meaningless unless Congress does the same.
The U.S. Senate takes up the issue today.
Democrats are opposed to the idea saying oil companies could increase supply by drilling on the 68 million acres of land they already lease. Earlier, Senator Bob Corker called the figure misleading because oil companies have to lease the land before a geological survey showing oil at the site is conducted.
Democrats also say oil speculators are to blame for high prices. Capitol News Connection reports Republican Senator Lamar Alexander agrees, and says it’s included it in such an amendment.
“…which would put in effect 100 more cops on the beat to investigate the swaps… but our point is, the American people don’t want a trick that avoids finding more energy as well as using less.”
Democratic leaders have vowed to block any Republican amendment that gives states new leeway to pursue offshore drilling.
Our poltical reporting from Capitol News Connection in Washington is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and PRI – Public Radio International.
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