Should Congress lift the ban on offshore oil drilling?

Yes
No
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8/1/2008 5:29:55 PM

Set as news: True

7/14/2008 10:27:03 AM

Set as news: True

7/14/2008 10:25:35 AM

Set as news: True

6/19/2008 4:02:26 PM

Set as news: True

6/18/2008 6:55:53 PM

Set as news: True

6/18/2008 6:19:23 PM

looks good.

6/18/2008 6:01:08 PM

Agreed... went ahead and changed the wording.

previous version of issue

Should the U.S. allow oil drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf?

  • Yes
  • No
6/18/2008 5:42:16 PM

I'm for Jenna's second suggestion...the way everyone is talking about it.

"Should Congress lift the ban on offshore oil drilling?"

6/18/2008 10:56:09 AM

Radio Host Larry Elder is for it:

LARRY ELDER, TALK RADIO HOST, SUPPORTS MCCAIN: Well, the things that -- that Ed wants are not mutually exclusive. We can drill. We can protect the environment. We can also get involved in alternative sources of fuel. Once the price gets to $4 a gallon, $5 a gallon, all of a sudden V.C.s, venture capitalists, get off their seats and start investing money.

And we can drill offshore. The Europeans drill offshore. There's no reason why we can't drill offshore in Alaska. Alaskans want drilling in ANWAR. The rest of the lower 48 does not.

6/18/2008 10:54:23 AM

Radio Host Ed Schultz seems to be against it:

ED SCHULTZ, TALK RADIO HOST, SUPPORTS OBAMA: Well, Larry, I think it's a desperate move by the president because he never anticipated that gas prices were going to get to this point.

John McCain was against drilling and now he's for it.

Now, when Barack Obama goes out and talks about change, this is exactly what he's talking about. This country is at a crossroads on what we're going to do about energy in this country.

Are we going to drill, are we going to protect the environment, are we going to look for alternative sources?

This is going to be a big issue in this campaign. I'm glad it's happening in the middle of June, because we've got a long way to go and a lot of decisions to make.

I think that we cannot drill our way to energy independence. And I think it's very short-sighted on the part of John McCain.

6/18/2008 10:30:43 AM

Or, "Should Congress lift the ban on offshore oil drilling?"

6/18/2008 10:27:41 AM

McCain is for.  Bush decided he is too.  Obama's against.

AP via TPM

In response, President Bush is renewing his call to open U.S. coastal waters to oil and gas development, arguing that it's high time to battle high prices with increased domestic production. He is planning to ask Congress on Wednesday to lift the drilling moratoria that have been in effect since 1981 in more than 80 percent of the country's Outer Continental Shelf and to let states help to decide where to allow drilling.

"The president believes Congress shouldn't waste any more time," White House press secretary Dana Perino told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "He will explicitly call on Congress to ... pass legislation lifting the congressional ban on safe, environmentally friendly offshore oil drilling."

 

[...]

 

On Monday, GOP presidential candidate John McCain made lifting the federal ban on offshore oil and gas development a key part of his energy plan. McCain said states should be allowed to pursue energy exploration in waters near their coasts and get some of the royalty revenue.

Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate for president, opposes lifting the ban on offshore drilling and says that allowing exploration now wouldn't affect gasoline prices for at least five years.