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Scalise responds to DOI 2012 – 2017 OCS leasing program

November 8, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve Scalise today issued the following statement after Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012 – 2017.

“This announcement by DOI is just another example of the Obama Administration’s failed energy policy that has run thousands of jobs out of our country and made America more dependent on Middle Eastern oil,” Scalise said. “Not only does this announcement maintain a failed agenda, it’s also disappointing that the Obama Administration refuses to lift the ‘permitorium’ that has resulted in thousands of lost jobs and created an unprecedented level of uncertainty that has caused many deepwater rigs to move to foreign nations like Egypt and Ghana.

“If President Obama were serious about creating jobs and eliminating our dependence on foreign oil, he would work with House Republicans and support our plans to open up America’s energy resources, creating millions of jobs here at home and generating billions of dollars to pay down our national debt. People in Louisiana have long understood what American energy exploration and development means for jobs and our local economy here at home, but it’s disappointing that people in states like Virginia, who want to be able to explore for energy off their coast, are being held back by these failed energy policies from the Obama Administration.”

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Issues:Energy