Keeping a promise he made last week, Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) today introduced legislation to lift the Obama administrations’ six month offshore drilling moratorium.
The moratorium was put in place in the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Other area congressman, including Michael McCaul (R-Austin), Ron Paul (R-Lake Jackson) and John Culberson (R-Houston), joined in sponsoring the legislation.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
In introducing the bill, Olson and Vitter both pointed to the fact that offshore drilling provides 30 percent of all U.S. oil production; is the second largest source of revenue to the federal government at $6 billion annually and has a direct employment of 150,000 individuals.
The six month moratorium would result in rigs moving overseas to continue operations and increasing U.S. reliance on foreign sources of oil, they said.
“This moratorium threatens to finish what the oil spill started. If it stays in place, even for six months, it will be a devastating blow to the economy of Louisiana and other Gulf states,” Vitter said. “My bill would simply nullify the president’s ill-advised moratorium. The best way to prevent future oil spills is not to stop drilling altogether, but to improve the inspection process to ensure that our rigs are safe.”
Olson noted the Houston region stands to shoulder the brunt of the economic impact of the shutdown.
“This moratorium has impacted thousands of Houstonians in the offshore drilling industry including rig operators, equipment manufacturers, transportation and support staff,” Olson said. “The Gulf Coast economy is already suffering from the oil spill, and is being further crushed by this painful and unnecessary moratorium. Industry experts indicate losses of millions of dollars per day and have explored moving operations overseas.”
Olson added it would take a minimum of 5-10 years to get production back to normal operations should the rigs leave.
“We don’t shut down the entire airline industry while NTSB investigates a plane crash and we shouldn’t do the equivalent to the energy industry,” he said.
Sponsors of the legislation noted the shutdown of the 33 rigs that will be idle for six months would cost $250,000 to $500,000 per day, per rig. Direct wages lost would be approximately $330 million a month
Additionally, 800-1400 jobs per idle rig would be at risk.
The 33 rigs subject to the ban were successfully inspected in early May by order of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, sponsors added.
In addition to Olson, McCaul, Paul and Culberson, House co-sponsors of the bill include: Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN), Joe Barton (R-TX), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Kevin Brady (R-TX), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Ted Poe (R-TX), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Gregg Harper (R-MS), Randy Neugebauer (R-TX), Charlie Melancon (D-LA), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), John Shadegg (R-AZ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/16/gulf.oil.disaster/index.html?hpt=T1
this is a good update on the disaster.
I think what is sad is the fact that as we sit hear and post thousands of more gallons of raw crude have flowed freely into the Gulf. Does anyone have a comparison of the area impacted in the much smaller Valdez disaster of Exxon-Mobil or the gallons spilled?
It is hard to defend oneself against such twisted logic. Honestly, although I am an Independent, someone once saw me reading, and called me a democrat. I am still trying to figure out what that means for republicans and democrats. For example, because, I can read, does that make me a democrat? What if I can read, but I don’t, does that then make me a republican? Just askin…
My family works in the oil industry (like so many of us) but that does not mean that we should be stupid and blind when it comes to personal and corporate accountability and responsibility. Once again, Pete Olsen is NOT doing the people of his area any favors. Pete is a “company owned man” period.
Patroit says “we should not be stupid and blind”. Are you describing your own actions? Be specific in your statement. You also said Olson is a “company owned man”. Again, be specific. That implies you know for a fact he receives direct personal payments. Proof? You sound like a Dem (who would never vote sensibly) who just throws out wild statements without specifics. Don’t cut off your nose just to spew hatred toward oil companies, and Republicans.
“Voice of Reason?” Please! Olsons campaign records are clear and open to the public. He is a company owned man, through the money he receives and the bills he writes. These are not unspecific secrets to any of us. We cannot make good choices without using this very basic knowledge base. Do you assume that I am a Democrat because I access open records or because I don’t share your carefully protected ignorance?
Scud is on the attack again. Nothing ever changes.
Sounds like you’re on the attack. Who is scud? Still name calling?
You are the last person that should be lecturing anyone on name calling, hypocrite. What’s the matter, no one visits your blog so you feel the need to come pollute this one?
We’re on to you…
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed again A&A? How funny. Mega’s having a tantrum today. What’s wrong FEMA didn’t come through on another corp. welfare project for you? LOL
PS “We’re” is you and that is singular. Take a elem English class would you.
Still not affiliated with any A&A or gotten 1 red cent from FEMA which would make you a liar. I know who YOU are tho. 8^)
Thank you Olson, McCaul , Paul, Culberson, Vitter, Pence, Barton, Brady, Gohmert, Poe, Boustany, Harper, Neugebauer, Melancon, Cuellar, Shadegg, and Cassidy. Oh wait, they are probably all “company owned men” as well. *rolling eyes* Ignorance abounds.
You still pretending that I’m affiliated with A&A and get FEMA $$? I thought I was JBB? Who exactly am I this week anyway?
When will you admit you have no idea what you’re talking about? You have no idea who I am but I know who YOU are, that’s the difference.
Well missive I have seen stupidity in this CD-22 seat from both parties in Lampson (D) and Olson (R) and before them from the master himself Delay (R)….stupidity seems universal these days and both parties have never looked more alike. Both with their hands out to the taxpayers and special interest.
Ck this out on our current incumbent. It tends to support your claim of, “Pete is a “company owned man” period.”
http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/cancomsrs/?_10+H8TX22107
Interesting that you would mention “… oil companies, and Republicans…” as if they were interchangeable. Are you saying that they are one and the same? I sure hope not.
There’s a difference between accountablilty and kneejerk overreactions that causes a ripple effect upon an entire industry just so a leader
can claim he did something.
Some of my family just got back from the white sands area of Florida-Alabama. They got some really good deals on empty hotel rooms. They said except for the locals and hired clean-up crews it was like a ghost town where they were. I’m sure this spill is not just killing the wildlife but certainly the tourist industry. They said they couldn’t keep count of all the dead birds and porpoise washing ashore. It really saddens the heart.
I don’t hear any of you complaining about the ruin of the seafood industry because of this massive spill and all the related businesses. You must be oil company clones, I mean clowns or both. What idiot engineer didn’t come up with this problem scenario and a solution prior to the blow-out? If you can’t drill safely and with good science then you shouldn’t be drilling that deep. This huge environmental-disaster will eco for generations. What are you going to tell your grand kids? I know I’m going to blame it on idiots that defend it.
All Our waters must be protect from large polluters like BP, effecting our sea waters life industry! Let go Green forcing our clea water act!!
Patriot, in dictatorships things get done more efficiently.
Most large oil companies are dictatorships conservative1. Are you saying if they are going to ask for a bailout on the clean-up that taxpayers have no right to expect accountability?
When there is a big drilling “leak” in the United Arab Emirates, the government historically shuts down all drilling until all of the drilling companies come together and solve the problem. It is a highly effective technique for keeping the drilling companies honest and safety driven. Why are we so blindsided and shortsighted as to think that drilling companies should have total rule over safety, environmental concerns, and the concerns of the people? Are we a corporatocracy or what?
Why didn’t Obama close all auto manufacturing plants when Toyoto had a problem? Can you say Union vs Oil non-union workers? If Obama is not stopped, we could reach a point of never return before we can vote him out. One, yet defined accident, vs 30,000 successful rigs is way over kill. Keep our area energy jobs alive. Support this legislation. God Bless Rep. Olson.
Perhaps he didn’t because the problem was limited to consumers of the Toyota product. The logic does not apply for large man-made environmental disasters that impact all of us. The problem on the BP deep well is an engineering problem that may impact other deep water wells. Nice try but not the same problem and I’m not sure what good it does to blame a union or association. The oil companies give quite a bit to politicians too and they have professional associations also.
Let’s call it the Anti-Kneejerk/Anti-Approval Rating Boost Bill.