House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) held his weekly pen and pad briefing today. He spoke in support of presumptive democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s visit to Iraq and Afghanistan, saying Obama’s comments were measured, responsible and well received by the international community.

On the recent oil and gas prices, Hoyer said, “Republicans are not being honest with the American people.” He said all Republicans voted against extending renewable tax incentives, and are speaking poorly about the Democratically held Congress to deflect attention from their failed energy policies. Hoyer said that the United States is currently not drilling the 68 million acres of land available, and should focus on getting that oil before moving on to the Outer Continental Shelf or drilling in ANWR.

Hoyer spoke about the housing crisis and said that the economy will be deeply effected if we do not stabilize Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Hoyer spoke positively about a housing bill currently going through Congress, President Bush has said he will not veto the bill. The housing bill will be a major stimulus bill and is expected to pass is great bipartisan support.

Congressmen Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) and Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) held a pen and pad briefing on the recent American Energy Tour and used the opportunity to express their frustration with Democrats’ anti-drilling position.

Putnam said that America has the tools it needs to solve the energy crisis, but requires new leadership to achieve energy independence. He said the Republicans plan on unveiling a bill that is an “all-of-the-above” approach to the oil crisis that includes measures on conservation, renewables, clean nuclear technology, and domestic exploration for oil. He said the bill would embody Republicans’ open-mindedness and leadership, a stark contrast to Democrats’ constant denial of even debate on the topic of drilling.

McCarthy said that in his recent tour of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), he learned that a key oil transmission line is not used to capacity and if exploration is not done, great amounts of oil will be lost. He said the Democrats’ constant denial of drilling tells the American people that oil prices will continue to go up. Putnam added that Republicans are constantly offering what they are willing to do, while the Democrats only say what they are unwilling to do. He said his party is determined to force a vote on energy issues before the Congress breaks for August.

House Republicans held a press conference to discuss their trip to Alaska and Colorado on the American Energy Tour. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) noted that oil production in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska has declined, chastising Democrats for standing in the way of Congressional progress on energy issues. According to Boehner, Republicans embrace a holistic energy strategy that includes drilling, conservation, and increasing the development of oil alternatives. (more…)

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) states that reports say drilling on the outer-continental shelf of Alaska can anywhere from six months to one year from now. (0:12)

 

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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) says President Carter opened the Alaska Wildlife National Refuge (ANWR) for oil exploration and that the Democratic Congress prohibited drilling on the coastal plain. Boehner continues, saying there is no geographical separation between the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska (NPR-A,) Prudhoe Bay, and ANWR and that wildlife in the NPR-A proves wildlife and oil production can co-exist. (1:09)

 

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Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) says wildlife thrives in habits where oil production occurs, adding that the only thing standing in the way of increased oil production is liberal leadership in Congress. (0:42)

 

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“Democrats in the House and Senate have stood in the way of more American made energy” said House minority leader John Boehner (R-Ohio). “That’s why almost 70% of our oil that we use everyday has to be imported.” Boehner and other top Republicans spoke at a press conference today to accept a petition from American Solutions signed by 1.3 million Americans. The petition calls on congress to take action now to lower gas prices. (more…)

The energy policies of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) were discussed at a conference hosted by the National Journal. In addition, panelists discussed their views of the political climate for legislative action in the coming congress. (more…)

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) says that Reid is a chicken for not supporting a vote on American production of oil offshore. The numbers that the United States has are not positive or up to date, because there has never been a modern day exploration analysis of offshore potential. (1:38)

 

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House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) spoke at his weekly pen and pad today about the failures of the Bush Administration and the need to regulate the speculation in the oil market. The House is holding four hearings this week on the impact of speculation on the oil market.

Recently President Bush said that the United States was addicted to oil, and his solution was to get more oil, Hoyer said you don’t give a cocaine addict more drugs and that the United States should be looking for alternative solutions to our energy needs. The United States should be looking to reduce, explore, extract, refine, sell and bring prices down in the oil market in the near future, he said. The House Democrats were recently blocked by the Republicans to get the oil industry to drill on the 68 million acres of federal land they have permits for or lose the permits. Hoyer said that Republicans have blocked many pieces of legislation on the House and Senate side and are not seriously working to solve the energy crisis.

Hoyer said that the Bush Administration has had the worst job performance of any administration, they have lost jobs and increase the national debt of the U.S. Americans are correctly concerned about the energy crisis, and that only recently did the Bush Administration recognize the fact that global warming was an issue.

The House will be getting its message out to voter in the month of July, and Hoyer said they will be working with the Obama campaign to get a change of direction from the Bush economic, energy and fiscal policies.