Drilling in ANWR will Cut Gas Costs ( Rep. Michelle Bachmann R-MN )

humanevents.com ^ | 07/25/2008 | Congresswoman Bachmann (R-MN)

[kellynla]

America’s gas prices are continuing to spiral out of control and Washington has done nothing to give our nation’s motorists the relieve they deserve. Record high prices are having a major impact on American consumers and businesses, from the way people travel to the way they do business to the food they buy at the grocery store. Congress has the ability to decrease prices at the pump and get our nation back to $2 a gallon gas – and it means accessing our nation’s available resources and opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) today.

Last weekend, I traveled to northern Alaska to view firsthand the vast supply of natural resources America possesses. As I expected, ANWR was nothing more than a barren land, an arctic tundra void of wildlife and trees. During most of the year, it’s completely blanketed with ice and snow. Also, of the 19.6 million acres that makes up ANWR, the area which would be used for oil exploration is a small 2,000-acre lot. That is not even 1/10 of 1% of the total area of ANWR. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that 10.4 billion barrels of oil are recoverable in ANWR. If retrieved that would mean a possible 50% increase in total U.S. proven reserves and thousands of new domestic jobs.

It’s critical that Congress make lowering our gas prices a priority and set its political games aside. Yet, Democrats in the majority continue to block commonsense legislation from coming to the floor. In fact, they’re using parliamentary maneuvers to keep Republicans from even offering pro-energy amendments.

Since my earliest days in Congress, I have joined my Republican colleagues in supporting key legislation to curb our nation’s gas costs. Recently, I introduced a bill which would help us return to $2 a gallon. My bill, H.R. 6463, the Emergency Energy Cut-the-Red-Tape Now Act, would allow Americans to tap our national energy resources and provide relief from off-the-chart gas costs. It gives the Secretary of the Interior the ability to open the ANWR, oil shale reserves, and the Outer Continental Shelf, and streamline the refinery process. And if the price of oil exceeds $100 a barrel, my bill would require the Secretary to waive leasing and permitting regulations to open up these energy stores without further delay.

The United States has the ability to be energy independent. With abundant resources in areas like ANWR and the Mountain West we could end our foreign dependence on oil once and for all. Currently, the U.S. is the only country in the world that discourages using its own energy resources. Our country imports 10 million barrels of crude oil every day. Andy, we are importing 1.3 million barrels of refined gasoline. Having toured Alaska, I’ve seen the infrastructure that is already built and the pipeline that is not even at full capacity. We have the knowledge and expertise right here at home to procure and refine these products, get them to the pump, and create American jobs in the process.

Once these federal lands that have been off-limits are open to exploration, we would immediately begin to tap into our own resources, helping make us less dependent on foreign energy sources and reducing the cost to consumers. It’s clear that the American people are hurting and need immediate help. Congress must open up these lands and help Americans by exploring, producing, and putting these sources of energy into production now.

[kellynla]

Congresswoman Bachmann serves the 6th district of Minnesota

[kellynla]

ping

[mouse1]

Keep on congress

Pelosi AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

[jwparkerjr]

Sounds right (Right) to me!

[kcm.org]

Better hurry, President Bush is packed, ready to go home...

[Gamecock]

Invoking the photo rule:

[bray]

If you like $4/gal, Thank Congress in Nov.

Pray for W and Our Troops

[AIM-54]

I am hugely critical of and angry towards our politicians these days, but I always make an exception for Michelle Bachmann.

She’s solid! Two thumbs up!

[econjack]

I really hope she does well, but Queen Pelosi and Court Jester Reid will not allow anything that might help the American consumer pass until after the election. With a 9% approval rating, you'd think these two bozos would—for once—want to do something right. Not!

Pelosi, Reid, Boxer, Feinstein, et al could care less about what the average person is experiencing right now. All they care about is power at any cost. Man...where's the tar and feathers when you need them?

[John Leland 1789]

There’s even a difference in the general countenance of the GOP ladies that serve in Congress, is there not? Is it just me?

[sport]

Evidently they [the American voter]does. They put the Democrats back in control of Congress in ‘06. Things have went downhill ever since.

Not only did the American voters return the Democrats to power in ‘06, they are on the verge of electing a muslim as President in ‘08.

From reading the letters to the editors, watching and listening to news programs, listening to some callers to talk radio shows, I have reached the conclusion that most Americans have lost their desire to live as free people. They would prefer to sell their souls to the Government in return for “free health care”, “free housing”, and “free money”. They would much prefer to live in a Country such as Cuba, Chile, North Korea or the U.K. where the Government takes care of one from the cradle to the grave.

I wish that they would go there and let people such as myself who only want to live and let live alone.

Wh

[BallyBill]

Just the THREAT of Drilling lowers prices, that should tell us something.

I'm not sure what, but it sure scares some people that we might not be a slave to ME Oil.

[swatbuznik]

God Bless, Michele!

[bray]

When Germany bombed Pearl Harbor were we finished?? It ain’t over yet.

Pray for W and Our Freedom Fighters

[backhoe]

Evidently they [the American voter]does. They put the Democrats back in control of Congress in ‘06. Things have went downhill ever since. Not only did the American voters return the Democrats to power in ‘06, they are on the verge of electing a muslim as President in ‘08. From reading the letters to the editors, watching and listening to news programs, listening to some callers to talk radio shows, I have reached the conclusion that most Americans have lost their desire to live as free people. They would prefer to sell their souls to the Government in return for “free health care”, “free housing”, and “free money”. They would much prefer to live in a Country such as Cuba, Chile, North Korea or the U.K. where the Government takes care of one from the cradle to the grave. I wish that they would go there and let people such as myself who only want to live and let live alone.

That is exactly how it looks to me, as well.

Brainless "infotainment," empty-headed yakking on cell phones, and a hand out, rummaging through my back pocket...

DamIfIKnow what we do about it.

[marlon]

I just this morning ran into a friend who has historically been as far right as anyone I've ever met. He wears a T-shirt with Ronald Reagans picture saying "True Conservative" and has been a political junkie since he was 8 years old.

When I saw him a few months back he told me he was voting for Obama and knowing him (a former Pat Buchannan campaign worker) I assumed it was his way of protest against the free spending Republicans and the I'll show them insantiy of the '06 elections.

Much to my dismay this morning he told me he changed his party registration to Democrat yesterday. I said you have to be kidding me, I know your angry but joining the anti-American left isn't the answer. Well he went into a rant about how this is the most corrupt administration in the history of the country (he said the same about Clinton at the time) how Bush is a war criminal and we never should have been in Iraq. We can bail out the stock people but my health insurance premiums are going up and they won't give us socialized medicine, they let the real estate market spin out of control, etc. etc.

All I could think of is the world has truly gone insane. Here was a guy who things Reagan was the closest thing to God who is now telling me he's going to vote for Obama becasue we shouldn't have freed the Iraqis, should have socialized medicine and that it's the President's fault that the real estate and mortgage market went out of control. Frightening to think what will be left of this country after 8 years of Obama, Pelosi and Reid!

[Wooly]

For the lack of me I cannot understand why the GOP has not started running ads in congressional districts that just point out that Democrat Congressperson?Senator (Fill in the Name) has voted against oil exploration every time and place while taking money from politically motivated enviro groups every chance He/She gets.

[norraad]

Start with a Glenn Beck pitchfork!

[af_vet_rr]

They are a complete and total idiot if they think we could go back to $2 a gallon gas for a couple of reasons:

1) It would take several years for new production in ANWR to come online (and some of the production and transportation costs will not be worth it at $2 a gallon). Inflation means that even if gas were $2 a gallon now, it's still going to go up over time and by the time new production in ANWR came online and had produced enough to have an impact, inflation would have driven the price up.

2) Demand is only going to go up. I can't believe Rep. Bachmann is not aware of just how much of an impact increasing demand in China and India over the next 10 years will have on production and supplies.

To me, it's election year rhetoric meant to play well to those who are ignorant of just what's involved in new production and ignorant of rising demand globally.

[Salvation]

 

 

Contact your Congress critters to let them know that you are tired of high gas prices.

U. S. Senate

U. S. House of Representatives

[Salvation]

And it looks as though she has a developed brain, too!

[jpsb]

A while back a bill to allow drilling in ANWR passed the House, but died by 1 vote in the Senate. Guess who's vote killed the bill?

John McCain.

[LibertyGrrrl]

[Democrat_media]

Maybe this friend of yours was just into the personality of Reagan. I think he never had the ideological foundation to be a conservative. For example I know that capitalism works and that government/socialism don’t so I am not a conservative because of Reagan or any person but because of economic reasons primarily. I am a conservative because I believe in liberty and I know that Democrats are Marxists and that they will ruin the economy and destroy our civilization with their socialism and big government.

[Go Gordon]

There’s even a difference in the general countenance of the GOP ladies that serve in Congress, is there not? Is it just me?

I'd do her.

[Go Gordon]

A while back a bill to allow drilling in ANWR passed the House, but died by 1 vote in the Senate. Guess who's vote killed the bill? John McCain.

The ANWR bill passed the House and Senate in 1996 and was vetoed by Clinton.

[sport]

I attempted three times to respond but I cannot tell you anything you don’t know.

[af_vet_rr]

Contact your Congress critters to let them know that you are tired of high gas prices.

What are they going to do about the increasing demand from China and India?

When this idiot Bachmann and others talk about lowering the cost of gas as if it could be easily done with ANWR, etc., they are ignoring the fact that China and India have rapidly increased their consumption over the past 10 years and the next 10 years will be even worse. That's not even taking into account inflation.

We are done with the days of $2 and probably even $2.75 gasoline, regardless of what the critters in Congress will tell you in an election year.

[marlon]

Not sure what you mean??

[NicknamedBob]

"All I could think of is the world has truly gone insane. Here was a guy who things Reagan was the closest thing to God who is now telling me he's going to vote for Obama becasue we shouldn't have freed the Iraqis, should have socialized medicine and that it's the President's fault that the real estate and mortgage market went out of control. Frightening to think what will be left of this country after 8 years of Obama, Pelosi and Reid!"

Whatever he's drinking, don't drink it!

[NicknamedBob]

"What are they going to do about the increasing demand from China and India?

When this idiot Bachmann and others talk about lowering the cost of gas as if it could be easily done with ANWR, etc., they are ignoring the fact that China and India have rapidly increased their consumption over the past 10 years and the next 10 years will be even worse. That's not even taking into account inflation.

We are done with the days of $2 and probably even $2.75 gasoline, regardless of what the critters in Congress will tell you in an election year."

You make a good point, but it is equally important that the money we spend, whatever the price of oil, not go to regimes and philosophy inimical to the American way of life.

Our gasoline might cost just as much, but at least some of US would be making money on it.

[okie01]

We are done with the days of $2 and probably even $2.75 gasoline, regardless of what the critters in Congress will tell you in an election year.

Some unknown component of the oil price is speculation, predicated solely on the largest single user's apparent failure to do anything for itself.

That assertion is evident from the volatility of the past few days when the politics appeared to be turning -- even a little bit -- toward increasing supply.

If the US does commit to drilling offshore and in ANWR (or anywhere else), the speculative component in the pricing will shrink to essentially nothing, in the face of a substantial long-term supply adjustment toward demand.

There isn't any question that the long-term situation calls for increasing demand. But getting our asses in gear will go a long way toward meeting that demand.

Maybe removing the speculative component results in $2.75 gasoline. OK. That's a helluva lot better than $4.00 gasoline -- which is inevitably going to become $5, then $6, if our energy policy is left in the hands of the liberals.

[af_vet_rr]

You make a good point, but it is equally important that the money we spend, whatever the price of oil, not go to regimes and philosophy inimical to the American way of life.

Our gasoline might cost just as much, but at least some of US would be making money on it.

I agree with you completely, and wouldn't mind paying $4 or $5 if the money was staying in the US, but our President and his family are too closely tied to the Saudis (going back to the '50s and '60s) for him to say that.

[af_vet_rr]

Some unknown component of the oil price is speculation, predicated solely on the largest single user's apparent failure to do anything for itself.

That assertion is evident from the volatility of the past few days when the politics appeared to be turning -- even a little bit -- toward increasing supply.

As soon as we began sending diplomatic feelers out towards Iran and began to make nice with them, there clearly was a drop (and I think that's why we began playing nice with Iran, to help drop the price a bit), but at the same time that's good for six months to a year at most. We will be paying higher prices in the future, regardless of inflation or politics.

Maybe removing the speculative component results in $2.75 gasoline. OK. That's a helluva lot better than $4.00 gasoline -- which is inevitably going to become $5, then $6, if our energy policy is left in the hands of the liberals.

Bush and the Republicans in Congress haven't exactly done a bang up job with our energy police so I don't trust liberals or Republicans - Bush had a Republican Congress for several years and they sat on their butts and twiddled their thumbs.

[NicknamedBob]

"... but our President and his family are too closely tied to the Saudis (going back to the '50s and '60s) for him to say that."

What worries me is ... if I didn't know better, (and I don't!), I'd think some of our liberal congresscritters are deeply in the pocket of overseas oil interests.

Just idle speculation on my part, of course. Certainly those fine folks are much too noble to stoop to such temptation.

[okie01]

Bush had a Republican Congress for several years and they sat on their butts and twiddled their thumbs.

Three times, the GOP Congress has voted for an Energy Bill that allowed drilling in ANWR. In 1996, Bill Clinton vetoed it. In 1998, Algore voted it down, 51-50. Both Daschle and Reid and the Democrat majority filibustered such a bill during the Bush administration.

The 'Pubbies ain't perfect -- yes, they could have raised more hell about an energy bill -- but it is the Democrats who have blocked progress in this area. As both the majority and the minority.

[af_vet_rr]

Three times, the GOP Congress has voted for an Energy Bill that allowed drilling in ANWR. In 1996, Bill Clinton vetoed it. In 1998, Algore voted it down, 51-50. Both Daschle and Reid and the Democrat majority filibustered such a bill during the Bush administration.

The 'Pubbies ain't perfect -- yes, they could have raised more hell about an energy bill -- but it is the Democrats who have blocked progress in this area. As both the majority and the minority.

I'm pretty sure Bush took office after Clinton did - somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

[okie01]

I'm pretty sure Bush took office after Clinton did - somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, that's pretty much right.