Two wrongs: GOP, Dems both mistaken about offshore drilling | Editorial | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Two wrongs: GOP, Dems both mistaken about offshore drilling | Editorial | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Two wrongs
Republicans and Democrats both mistaken about the significance of expanding offshore drilling.

Aug. 12, 2008, 10:08PM
Two wrongs
Republicans and Democrats both mistaken about the significance of expanding offshore drilling.
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 12, 2008, 10:08PM
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Republicans in Congress mistakenly imply that ending a congressional ban on most offshore drilling would reduce today's gasoline prices. The Democrats are equally mistaken in their counterargument, leaving the voters without a needed rational discussion on energy this summer.

House Democrats, vacationing away from Capitol Hill, are correct when they say an immediate end to the ban on drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts would not affect gasoline prices anytime soon, if at all. However, that is no reason to discourage offshore drilling in the coming years. Regardless of conservation measures and the development of alternative fuels, Americans are going to need that domestically produced oil and gas to avoid an energy shortage.

To argue, as the Democrats do, that The United States should forgo future sources of oil and gas because they produce no energy today is illogical and ridiculous on its face. Should the United States drill no more wells at home because it is dependent on foreign sources today? Of course not. The long lead time in developing offshore oil and gas fields should act as an imperative to delay no further.

While House Democrats are taking August off, about 40 Republican House members have returned to Washington to criticize House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They fault her for going on tour to promote her autobiography before allowing a vote on offshore drilling.

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, armed himself with 10 questions scoffing at Pelosi's positions on energy. He was justified in asking Pelosi where her promised "common-sense plan to lower gas prices" was. He was also right to cast aspersion on the Democrats' insistence that Big Oil drill on acres already leased from the federal government. If Democrats don't mind drilling in current offshore leases, what is their objection to opening up other waters? The risk of a spill would be similar or the same, and companies should have the opportunity to deploy limited rigs where they think they have the best chance of hitting oil and gas.

However, U.S. Rep. Gene Greene was on the mark when he called the Republicans' rump session counterproductive theatrics. Pointing fingers is not going to place a single barrel of oil in the pipeline nor lower gasoline prices one penny. Without the will to compromise and craft rational, bipartisan energy legislation, House members might as well be on vacation.