Mary Landrieu: Drilling Moratorium Could Cost More Jobs than Oil Spill

By: Stephanie Condon
Topics: Domestic Issues

(Credit: AP)

Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat from Louisiana, said today she has urged the Obama administration to drop its new moratorium on deep-water, floating oil rigs because "it could cost more jobs than the spill itself."

The Interior Department issued the moratorium this week after an appeals court rejected the administration's first moratorium. The administration says the moratorium is necessary because of the uncertainty about deep-water drilling that was revealed when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, creating a massive, ongoing oil spill.

Landrieu, speaking at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce jobs summit, said the moratorium on floating rigs would be particularly damaging because they can be easily moved elsewhere.

The floating rigs are "some of the best rigs in the world, idle at $500,000 a day at a minimum," Landrieu said. "They're not going to stay idle until November 30."

She argued that driving away the rigs would not only have a negative economic impact for the United States, but also a negative environmental impact for the world, since the rigs would be sent to countries with fewer regulations and weaker court systems.

"If there's an accident like the one that happened... the ocean's in worse shape" if it occurs elsewhere, she said.

While she said she wants drilling to continue, Landrieu said she isn't sure about trusting BP.

"I'm going to put BP on notice, but the regular industry, I think, can be trusted," she said.

Landrieu praised other segments of the administration's energy policies, such as its "aggressive" push for nuclear energy and new auto technologies.

CBSNews.com Special Report: Disaster in the Gulf

Chamber of Commerce: Obama Polices are a "General Attack" on Free Enterprise

Stephanie Condon
Stephanie Condon is a political reporter for CBSNews.com.
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by newsterI July 15, 2010 12:10 PM EDT: Landrieu, speaking at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce jobs summit, said the moratorium on floating rigs would be particularly damaging because they can be easily moved elsewhere."

Let em MOVE ON OUT hon! I'll hold the door open for em, but we cant have another DISASTER like this blown well happen again! And it WILL happen because of the greed, shortcuts and defective junk.

"The floating rigs are "some of the best rigs in the world,"

Oh yeah, that's why one of the BEST is sitting on the bottom of the ocean after it BURNED, exploded and collapsed.

" idle at $500,000 a day at a minimum," Landrieu said."

Tough chit, BP like the rest of them embarked on the rape-America plan during the Bush regime's tenure when they could get away with $4 a gallon gas, threatening it could go MUCH higher, claiming COSTS increased that much yet laughably claiming RECORD PROFITS quarter after quarter after quarter!!!!
They must think Americans are just dumb chits who cant add 2 and 2, let's see, $4 a gal gas, expenses increase dramatically to produce that oil and gasoline, yet, the companies rake in RECORD PROFITS every quarter, each quarter beating the one before it!

"They're not going to stay idle until November 30."

I don't care what they do, they dont have the right to threaten us or destroy the world's oceans and our coastlines for a few weeks worth of oil. All that oil won't amount to but a few percentage points of how much we USE in this country!; Reply to this comment


by cleric60 July 15, 2010 7:55 AM EDT: Is this more of Prez. Obama's socialistic agenda at work--government control????????; Reply to this comment


by bajajohn1 July 15, 2010 1:33 AM EDT: One must choose between the tourism and fishing industry and the oil industry. Make your choice and be sure to know, that politicians will sie the industry that pays more campaign cash. Mary Landrieu is no exception. Most politicians are more concerned about keeping their office than they are about our nation.; Reply to this comment

by nolieshere July 14, 2010 10:27 PM EDT

Rickchicago1, how did you become so full of hate? Too early toilet training?

Reply to this comment


by voxpopulus July 15, 2010 12:03 AM EDT: I would debate facts with you, but you seem to have a tenuous grip of them.


by retm-w July 14, 2010 10:26 PM EDT: And the libs complain about palin saying "Drill Baby Drill". Now one of their own say's it and it's OK. Hypocrits; Reply to this comment


by cubscout09 July 14, 2010 10:19 PM EDT: I didn't break it, it was that way already.
These words will serve you well in life.; Reply to this comment

by zekeboy1 July 14, 2010 10:15 PM EDT

Wake Up America! There are about 3600 oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of those 3600, 33 are deep water drilling rigs. THIRTY THREE! It is my understanding that these are what will be affected should the moratorium
take effect. The politicians in the gulf region want to be re-elected I'm sure. They are going to come out against any loss of jobs. But for crying out loud. We now know how the system has worked as far as the paperwork fudging and all that. I think the moratorium should be invoked so we can take time to re-evaluate the safety systems that are supposed to be in place. Should another catastrophy happen out there, and I hope it doesn't, this administration would catch holy you know what over it for not doing more. They talk about the 'Atlantis' rig and what dangers lurk with it. Do we really want to chance another mess like this one? I vote no.

Reply to this comment


by RetLAEnvEmployee July 14, 2010 10:46 PM EDT: The well blew out almost three months ago (April 20th). If it is "just" THIRTY THREE deep water drilling rigs under the moratorium, what took so long to get around to inspecting them last month or the month before. It is "just THIRTY THREE rigs." They are half the size of an Navy aircraft carrier; they are not hidden; you can land a helicopter on one or safely tie up a Navy frigate to one. Reports are coming in that permits for drilling have stopped being "effectively" issued for the other 3,600 oil drilling rigs too with Federal delays and red tape. You will have an economic reaction, like Hurricane Katrina and Rita's interruption of oil and natural gas, in the near future with both rising a dollar or two dollar a gallon or MCF because of this stupid move by Obama.


by formrusmcsgt July 14, 2010 9:11 PM EDT: by RickChicago1 July 14, 2010 9:04 PM EDT
You are saying that a moratorium is needed and that current regs are not enough.
---
Yes.

And they preceeded Obama.; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt July 14, 2010 9:00 PM EDT: by thanksgreed July 14, 2010 8:58 PM EDT
Anyone who takes a serious subject and turn it ti "I hate the other guy" over and over again is not worth listening to
---
But they are fun to cuff around, eh?

Not much of a challenge, I'll admit....but it is fun nonetheless.....; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt July 14, 2010 8:59 PM EDT: by RickChicago1 July 14, 2010 8:37 PM EDT

The silence from the Left is deafening!
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Well, I'm giving you plenty from the middle and all I "hear" is silence from you, pal....; Reply to this comment