We Can't Afford "Obama Premium" at the Pump

Statement

One of the biggest threats to jobs and our economy's fragile recovery is increasing energy costs. But even as gas prices reach a budget-busting $4 a gallon and climbing, lowering energy prices for American families seems to be the last thing on the White House's agenda.

Now, more than ever, America needs an "all-of-the-above" energy plan that includes domestic energy sources that will put us on the path to energy independence and help create jobs. Drilling for oil and natural gas could create more than 1.2 million jobs. It will also increase our energy supply and lower the cost of gas at the pump for Wisconsin families.

This week, the House voted in a bipartisan manner to pass H.R. 1231, the "Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act," that will open up energy-rich regions of America to sensible and environmentally sound exploration. Crucial to this legislation was the inclusion of significant environmental safeguards to prevent and contain accidents such as the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010. The House has acted swiftly and responsibly, now it's time for the Senate and the President to step up to the plate and pass this common sense bill.

Over the last two years the Obama Administration has actually made accessing American energy more difficult. They've increased the regulatory power of the EPA, delayed drilling permits, halted offshore oil and natural gas exploration, and even pulled the plug on renewable energy projects on public lands.

Ironically, on a recent trip to Brazil, President Obama encouraged Brazilians to drill for oil, declaring, "We want to be one of your best customers!" He even announced plans to lend their state-owned oil company $2 billion to drill for oil off Brazil's shore. Why is offshore drilling good for Brazil, but not America, especially when we so desperately need jobs? This "Obama premium" is costing us, and we cannot afford it.

Americans want politicians to get serious about our national energy policy. To do that, our nation's energy plan must include, not ignore, the energy resources we have right here in America.

I came to D.C. on a promise to focus on jobs and the economy. By putting domestic energy production back on the table, we can do both - lower prices at the pump and put more Americans back to work.

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