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Leading Democrats Support Republican Solutions and Balk at Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s “No Energy” Energy Plan.

July 10, 2008 in Uncategorized | No comments

Leading House and Senate Democrats support increasing U.S. domestic energy production and exploration, yet Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been “sidestepping battles with Republicans over offshore drilling.” It now appears that she will have to sidestep members of her own party as well.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI)
Natural Resources Committee Member

“Then we better get started, because the longer we delay, the more we’re jeopardizing the American economy.” (Fox News, 7/7/08)

Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)
Energy and Commerce Committee Member

“Americans need Congress to look at real solutions in addressing our energy needs, especially when we have $4 a gallon gas. … We need answers and not just slogans… We need to do it all. … We have senators going to Saudi Arabia begging for them to increase their production, but we won’t increase ours in some of the most, potential, productive areas?” (Floor remarks, 6/26/08)

Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
Energy and Commerce Committee Member

“My concern with my leadership is that they’re not letting all the people in the room to present the facts. Where are all the pro-oil legislators? I’m not in the room. I don’t know who is. My feeling is we are not being all-inclusive to pass legislation that can get through the Senate and avoid a veto.” (The Hill, 7/8/08)

Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX)

Chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee

“[L]egislation to increase domestic energy production, including the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Outer Continental Shelf, should be a part of the way forward and not blocked from consideration in favor of harmful efforts to stifle production on existing leasing.” (FortBendNow, 7/7/08)

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

Assistant Majority Leader

“A top U.S. Democratic senator said in a newspaper interview published Wednesday that he would consider supporting opening up new areas for offshore oil and gas drilling. ‘I’m open to drilling and responsible production,’ Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin told The Wall Street Journal, adding that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid could also support the move.” (Reuters, 7/9/08)

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)
Member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Energy, Science and Technology Jurisdiction

“I think drilling in the United States makes a lot of sense. … I have always supported that. I think it [new oil exploration and drilling off the coast of Florida and off the coast of New Jersey in the Atlantic] needs to be done right.” (Fox News, 7/8/08)

Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)

“Webb wants his home state to have the right to explore for energy off Virginia’s coast. … ‘We can’t just not act,’ he said. ‘It’s time we had some leadership to really grab the larger picture and solve these problems.’” (The Hill, 6/19/08)