Policy & Lobbying

Congress returns to session this week after its 4th of July recess, during which most Members heard numerous concerns from constituents suffering due to high gas prices. This spells bad news for the next four to five weeks, as environmentally damaging bills are likely to come up every week until the August recess. Most of these will be in the form of drilling in one form or another. However, this week the bill on the table will probably be H.R. 2208, the Liquid Coal Fuel Act, also a pretty bad idea both environmentally and economically.

These misguided and Big Coal/Oil-prejudiced policies will do nothing to reduce the price of gas, but some in Congress will continue to sound that horn rather than working to offer a wider suite of energy options to American consumers. Only with greater market diversification, increased availability of other forms of energy, and improved transit will consumers find relief from escalating gas prices. So far however, Congress has been deadlocked, largely due to the desire of many to score political points in an election year.

A bill repealing the moratorium on drilling in the outer continental shelf (OCS) will likely be sent to the Appropriations Committee for mark-up on either Wednesday or Thursday. The Committee should consider sternly the environmental damage such a bill would do and the minimal likelihood that it would accomplish anything on behalf of the American public. The more likely result is yet more record-breaking profits for oil companies. Thankfully, the facts are on our side, and it is only the misdirection of those in league with Big Oil that are standing between environmental degradation and the continued preservation of a vital moratorium.

With the US at 25% of world oil consumption and only 2% of reserves in our control, there is no logic to suggest that increasing drilling provides either a short or a long-term solution to the problem of high prices. It is now on the backs of Congress to remain strong in the coming weeks to both preserve our environment and appropriately tackle high gas prices. Even John McCain, who tries to paint himself as an environmentalist despite a woeful League of Conservation Voters lifetime score of 24%, admits that some of his Big Oil-friendly suggestions offer merely "psychological" help for Americans.