As you read this bit on the latest numbers from Rasmussen, keep this -- from Michael Steel -- in mind:Please remember that tomorrow, Rep. John Peterson (R-Pa.) will offer his amendment to allow deepwater energy exploration at the Appropriations Committee markup. This amendment failed on a party line vote in subcommittee. With American families facing an average of $4.08 a gallon for gas - a “Pelosi Premium” of $1.75 - will every Democrat stand in the way of such a popular measure in the full committee?The numbers from Rasmussen, for those who aren't going to go read the piece:
Most voters favor the resumption of offshore drilling in the United States and expect it to lower prices at the pump, even as John McCain has announced his support for states that want to explore for oil and gas off their coasts.And while we're on the subject of increasing our supply of American oil, let's take a look at this release from the Institute for Energy Research which states that there is no difference between offshore drilling and ANWR:
A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey—conducted before McCain announced his intentions on the issue--finds that 67% of voters believe that drilling should be allowed off the coasts of California, Florida and other states. Only 18% disagree and 15% are undecided. Conservative and moderate voters strongly support this approach, while liberals are more evenly divided (46% of liberals favor drilling, 37% oppose).
Sixty-four percent (64%) of voters believe it is at least somewhat likely that gas prices will go down if offshore oil drilling is allowed, although 27% don’t believe it. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of conservatives say offshore drilling is at least somewhat likely to drive prices down. That view is shared by 57% of moderates and 50% of liberal voters.
Nearly all voters are worried about rising gas and energy prices, with 79% very concerned and 16% somewhat concerned.
Washington, DC – Less than a week after calling on President Bush to repeal the Executive Moratorium on offshore energy production, Institute for Energy Research (IER) president Thomas J. Pyle today issued the following statement in response to U.S. Senator John McCain’s announcement that he would seek to lift the long-standing federal bans as President of the United States:Drill Here. Drill Now. Pay Less.
“The federal government has made American energy production an illegal activity for too long, so Senator McCain’s call to lift the bans on offshore production is good news for consumers. The debate over the environmental risks of deep sea development has been put to rest by 21st century technology, tough environmental standards, and the safe offshore production records in dozens of countries around the world. It’s time to stop hurting ourselves and start producing more of our own energy right here at home.”
“Unfortunately, we continue to find fault with Senator McCain’s position on energy production on the coastal plain of ANWR. Like OCS production, advanced technologies have made arctic energy development safe and reliable for American consumers. If it is proper to grant the coastal states authority over offshore energy production - and we believe it is - then it is also proper to grant Alaskans the same authority over the state and federal lands on ANWR’s frozen coastal plain. The people of Alaska have been asking Washington for this right for more than two decades. It’s time for Washington to listen and put ANWR’s 1002 Area to use for the very reason it was set aside – to produce energy for America.”
ANWR Energy: According to U.S. government estimates, the mean estimate of the oil beneath ANWR’s northern coastal plain is 10.4 billion barrels, or, nearly half of the total proven reserves of the entire United States. At peak production, ANWR could produce approximately 1 million barrels of oil per day, which is roughly equal to the amount the entire state of Texas produces each day, and about as much as we currently import from Nigeria.
OCS Energy: Currently, 97% of America’s 2 billion acres of OCS are not being used for their energy potential. The U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) estimates that the outer continental shelf contains nearly 86 billion barrels of oil and 420 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. (The U.S. consumes roughly 7.5 billion barrels of oil and 23 trillion cubic feet of natural gas annually). In 2006, the Washington Post labeled the Congress’ annual appropriations rider “An Outdated Ban” on domestic energy production.
Environmental Technologies: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an extensive report – the Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil and Gas Explorations and Production Technology – outlining the innovations that make oil and gas production safe, even in sensitive environments.
UPDATE: Michael Steel sends along some numbers from pollster David Winston that I think clearly illustrate the issue as a winner for Republicans:
April 2008These numbers are from April and I don't think they've changed all that dramatically in the month or so since. If anything, these numbers are likely to have shifted even more in the GOP's favor as the Pelosi Premium has taken hold of even more of our hard-earned money.
Which statement do you agree with more? (ROTATE)
1. As much as I¹m concerned about the economy, we cannot afford to open up our natural resources to drilling for oil because of environmental risks. 32
2. The price of gas has gotten so high that we need to begin drilling for oil in an environmentally-sensitive way. 62
3. DK/Refused (DO NOT READ) 6
Do you think that offshore drilling for oil can or cannot be done in a way that does not harm the environment?
1. Can 73
2. Cannot 19
3. DK/Refused (DO NOT READ) 9
Do you think that Congress does or does not have the ability to lower gas prices?
1. Does 58
2. Does not 35
3. DK/Refused (DO NOT READ) 6
The American people are not being fooled. They know that we have the ability to get at this oil in an environmentally safe way and they want Congress to get out of the way.
UPDATE 2: Gallup recently announced that some 57 percent of Americans support more oil and gas exploration on U.S. lands and deep ocean energy zones.
UPDATE 3: Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- on Sen. McCain on Lifting Ban on Exploration of Deep Ocean Energy Resources:
“At a time when American families and small businesses are facing record fuel costs, Sen. McCain’s call for lifting this outdated ban is an important step toward securing our energy future and reducing our dependence on foreign sources of energy. Increasing production of American energy in an environmentally-safe way – both in deep ocean energy zones and on U.S. lands – will help lower gas prices and create thousands of new, good-paying American jobs. This common sense approach is favored by two-thirds of the American people according to a poll released today, and with gas prices soaring above $4 per gallon on their watch, the Democrats who stand in the way of it are proving just how deeply out of touch they truly are.
“House Republicans have introduced a comprehensive energy plan to harness new technologies and increase production of American energy to help bring down the price at the pump. Deepwater energy exploration is a major part of our plan. This week, Rep. John Peterson (R-PA) will give Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee the opportunity to join Republicans in supporting the energy reforms Americans want by offering a proposal to allow oil and gas exploration in deep ocean energy areas far off our coasts. If Democrats are truly serious about reducing gas prices and ending America’s costly dependence on foreign sources of energy, they will support the Peterson amendment, as well as Sen. McCain’s call to lift the ban on deepwater energy exploration.”
