New Analysis Reveals the Obama Administration is Costing Louisiana Revenue and Jobs

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy commented on a new analysis that shows offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico declined under the Obama Administration.

According to a new analysis by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Gulf of Mexico, along with Alaska and California, supplied almost half of all U.S. crude oil production in 2008. In 2009, the year President Obama entered the White House, federal offshore production in the Gulf of Mexico declined by more than 19 percent. By 2013, these states were responsible for less than one-third of national output.

The Gulf lagged behind in oil production in 2013. Despite the reluctance of this Administration to encourage production offshore, crude oil production increased overall by 15 percent. This is largely due to the shale production on private lands in Texas and North Dakota.

A report by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service shows that the 15 lease sales in U.S. waters that are included in President Obama's five-year plan represent the lowest number of lease sales ever proposed in a plan since the process began in 1980.

Dr. Cassidy released the following statement:

"Since President Obama took office, oil and gas production has decreased in federal offshore waters. This means fewer jobs for working Americans, fewer opportunities in the energy service industry, and less revenue for Louisiana and the Federal Treasury. Why wouldn't the Obama Administration want all Americans to have these opportunities?"

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