McCain: Lift Offshore Drilling Moratorium

Ariz. Senator Says States Should Have Right To Explore Energy Near Coasts

(AP)  Sen. John McCain said Monday the federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling should be lifted, and individual states given the right to pursue energy exploration in waters near their own coasts.

With gasoline prices rising and the United States chronically dependent on foreign oil, the Republican presidential contender said his proposal would “be very helpful in the short term resolving our energy crisis.”

McCain also suggested giving the states incentives, including a greater share of royalties paid by companies that drill for oil, as an incentive to permit exploration.

Asked how far offshore states should be given control of drilling rights, he said that was a matter for negotiation.

He offered no other details for his proposal, which he is expected to describe more fully on Tuesday in an energy speech.

The current drilling moratorium is a perennial cause for controversy, pitting those who favor additional exploration on the one hand against environmentalists on the other.

The current ban on offshore drilling covers an estimated 80 percent of U.S. coastal waters. Given Democratic opposition in Congress to ending it, the Bush administration and congressional Republicans have been seeking the type of state option that McCain endorsed.

The GOP presidential candidate said a recent run-up in the price of oil was having an adverse effect on consumers.

“We've seen the impact of it in the form of food prices, in the form of gasoline, in the form of threats of inflation and indeed indications of inflation, and we must we must embark on a national mission to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil,” he told reporters. McCain has sought to carve out something of a middle road on energy issues, parting company with many Republicans by opposing drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, for example and calling for measures to reduce greenhouse gases.

The Senate last month rejected a GOP energy plan, 56-42, that included a provision similar to McCain's proposal. It would have allowed a state's governor to petition to have the federal moratorium lifted for waters off its coast. Republican senators argued there are some 14 billion barrels of recoverable oil available in waters now off limits. Also, the House has twice approved giving states the right to opt out of the federal ban, both when the GOP held the majority, but the proposal has never made it through the Senate.

McCain made his remarks before leaving the Washington area for a pair of fundraisers in Dallas.

Another fundraising event, originally set for the home of Clayton Williams in Midland, Texas was pulled from the schedule after a controversy erupted over remarks the 1990 Texas GOP gubernatorial candidate made several years ago about rape.

McCain sought to minimize the fallout, telling reporters that his aides had not known of the earlier comment when they scheduled the event

“We'll do it someplace else and I understand he's not attending. That's pretty much the sum of it all,” he said.

He said he would hold another fundraising in the Midland area later this summer and Williams would not attend. Democrats have called on McCain to return more than $300,000 that Williams had raised for McCain from other individuals.

[actornaught]

The only reason they''re so hot to drill is BECAUSE of the high price of a barrel of oil. Isn''t that conVEEEENient? There''s nothing about this that''s favorable, it''s the SAME OLD MONEY-GRAB. It''s the big payoff for getting w into the WH. If the price drops, they''ll just drop the whole thing, or force us to pay for it.

[armydog2]

What makes you guys think that offshore drilling or drilling in Alaska will change the price of oil? The oil prices are all set on speculation in the stock market. even if we do drill more offshore or in alaska do you honestly think these guys will give up their profits? don''t count on it.

[nanc12]

# 12 in the list of McSame''s 12 flip flops in the last 2 weeks:

During his last run for the presidency, in 1999, McCain supported the drilling moratorium, and he scolded the %u201Cspecial interests in Washington%u201D that sought offshore drilling leases.

[mr2258]

Drill Drill Drill--Win Win Win. Go McCain

[rufisgufis]

I can hear Hillary now:

"I COULD''A BEEN A CONTENDAH!"

[rufisgufis]

And if they let you in night school, please try to learn how to spell- start with the word: definition. Look at it for a while, then turn your head and see if you can spell it at least three times - correctly.

[rufisgufis]

DEMOCRACY DOES NOT MEAN MAJORITY RULE - YOU IDIOT. THE UNITED STATES IS A REPUBLIC - GET IT?

[rufisgufis]

Posted by TruUSA at 07:37 PM : Jun 17, 2008
________________________

Anyone who votes "against" a person because of some snit, is a dam fool. Intelligent people vote on the issues.

[rufisgufis]

I''m loving this...67% of Americans now believe we should be drilling in ANWR and offshore of California, Florida etc.

Yet we see OsamaObama is still giving these 67% of Americans the middle finger "Hi" sign.
____________________

This is not a democracy; this is a republic. If it were a democracy where the majority rules, we still might have slavery. The fact that 67% of Americans (your figures) "believe" one way or the other, does not make them right.

[rufisgufis]

Smart? This is America; you can vote for the nominee of your choice:

You can vote for the one who can''t wait to nominate Supreme Court Justices who will overthrow Roe v. Wade;

You can vote for the one who voted AGAINST equal pay for women;

You can vote for the one who voted against health care for women as being too expensive.

You can vote for the one who helped give us the Iraq war.

You can vote for the one who can''t wait to "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb" Iran.

YES YOU CAN!

[rufisgufis]

Posted by RowdyWicca
_________________________

I can hear Hillary now: "I COULD''A BEEN A CONTENDA''.

[rufisgufis]

Too bad, isn''t it, Obama took Hillary''''s policies and totally SCREWED them up with his own dumb little additions!

Posted by RowdyWicca
______________________

Yeah, right! That''s why Hillary is an ex-contender and Obama is the presumptuous DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE. That''s why Hillary is in hiding somewhere hiding her wounds and wondering what went wrong.

[rowdywicca]

You mean the Marxist whackjob who''''s policies are, according to Hillary, just like Hillary''''s? You mean that whack job? Hillary would be proud of how you''''ve upheld the racist wing of her campaign.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by taddles3 at 11:56 AM : Jun 17, 2008

Too bad, isn''t it, Obama took Hillary''s policies and totally SCREWED them up with his own dumb little additions!

Hillary had enough sense to know how to use the taxes we already have in better ways!

Obama gets a twinkle in his eye every time he sees a new tax dollar!

And if you think you''re going to see you taxes go down I''ve got some swamp land I''ll sell ya...

[beastof70]

You mean the Marxist whackjob who''''s policies are, according to Hillary, just like Hillary''''s? You mean that whack job? Hillary would be proud of how you''''ve upheld the racist wing of her campaign.
Posted by taddles3 at 11:56 AM : Jun 17, 2008
=======================

I agree with you Toodles, a Democrat is a Democrat. There isn''t 50 cents real difference between any of these un-American libwads. They all share the goal of working to destroy America as built.

Simply watch how the Democrats and all their greenie weenie buddies are raping and molesting Lady Liberty with such zeal.

[beastof70]

How is what we see happening with energy today any different than what we''ve been watching these Democrats do throughout this war on terror.

Kut ''n run, oppose, and poor mouth....This is the Democrat way.

[beastof70]

I''m loving this...67% of Americans now believe we should be drilling in ANWR and offshore of California, Florida etc.

Yet we see OsamaObama is still giving these 67% of Americans the middle finger "Hi" sign.

[ponco seno]

McCain will do and say ANYTHING even if is wrong...

[noloyalisti]

What a stupid simple minded neo con this McSame is. Let''s drill more instead of stopping fascist oil country control of our government. There is PLENTY of area for exploration on shore. The oil slimewad corporations won''t do it because they simply want to wait until the price hits $200. Mission Accomplished GOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[von_marko]

Omar 101... Just curious... What muslim country are you blogging from??

[taddles3]

"A democratic congress and that farthest left wing Marxist whack job is NOT!

Posted by RowdyWicca at 11:03 AM : Jun 17, 2008"



You mean the Marxist whackjob who''s policies are, according to Hillary, just like Hillary''s? You mean that whack job? Hillary would be proud of how you''ve upheld the racist wing of her campaign.