Democrats Waive White Flag On Offshore Drilling

The Surrender Monkey is thrilled, and demanded he be given special time today, because, he does appreciate a good surrender

Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., told reporters Tuesday that a provision continuing the moratorium will be dropped this year from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Congress recesses for the election.

John Boehner responded, and notice something that is not mentioned at all in the AP article

Washington, Sep 23 – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement this evening after the Associated Press reported House Democrats would give in to the demands of House Republicans and the American people by lifting the lift bans on offshore and oil shale energy production in their continuing resolution appropriations legislation:

“House Republicans have fought for months to lift these outdated bans on American energy production, and the capitulation by Democrats today is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices. Over the last several months, Republicans have worked together toward an ‘all of the above’ energy plan that increases production of American energy in an environmentally-responsible way to help reduce gas prices. Day in and day out, the Democrats who run Congress blocked our efforts – until today, when they realized they could not defy the will of the American people any longer.

So, it is not just offshore, but oil shale, too, that the Demcrats have capitulated on (come on, John, you need to put the word surrender into the mix.)

Let Freedom Ring wonders if there is a catch. There could be, in the form of

While the ban on energy development will be lifted if the Senate goes along with the House action, it doesn’t mean any federal sale of oil and gas leases in the offshore waters — much less actual drilling — would be imminent.

The Interior Department’s current five-year leasing plan includes potential leases off the Virginia coast but probably would not be pursued unless the state agrees to energy development. And the state is unlikely to do so without Congress agreeing to share federal royalties with the state.

So, if Barry can win in November, he can pressure the Interior Dept. to give no new leases. Funny how it would be OK for Democrats if Barry uses pressure on Federal agencies, eh? But, for the time being, there are plenty of places where oil companies can open up capped wells and get oil quickly.

Others: Stop The ACLU, The Strata-Sphere, Hot Air, protein wisdom, Gateway Pundit, Atlas Shrugs

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