To drill, or not to drill
The House Republican whip, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, told reporters this week that ever since the GOP, led by President Bush, raised the issue of drilling for oil and gas on America's ocean shelf, "people are listening" to Republicans for the first time in years.
However, the Democratic congressional leaders are not among those who are listening. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has ruled that there won't even be a floor debate on the issue of offshore drilling before Congress begins its month-long August recess at the end of next week.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., forbade offshore exploration amendments to legislation limiting the influence of commodity futures speculators on the prices of oil and gas. On Wednesday, Sen. Robert C. Byrd., D-W.Va., pulled an appropriations bill from consideration to prevent Republicans from amending it to permit offshore drilling.
With gasoline prices hovering over $4 a gallon, a majority of voters polled think that loosening restrictions on drilling might help relieve pump pain over the long run. Other polls indicate many voters think that oil companies, and not average Americans, would get the economic benefit from more exploration.
President Bush lifted the executive ban on drilling in many coastal areas. However, Congress has renewed the ban every year. The current prohibition expires Sept. 30.
The probable Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, sides with President Bush on allowing more coastal exploration, but McCain does not support tapping oil and gas reserves believed to be under the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. Some believe this will help McCain in the presidential race.
McCain's Democratic rival, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, agrees with Pelosi, Reid and Byrd.
What do you think Congress should do?
--- Douglas Turner
