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Scalise on today’s Central Gulf of Mexico lease sale: The exception instead of the rule

March 27, 2013

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve Scalise today released the following statement on offshore energy lease sale at the Superdome.

“Today’s lease sale highlights the vast potential of our domestic energy resources on our Outer Continental Shelf, but unfortunately lease sales like this have become the exception instead of the rule because of President Obama’s failed energy policy that closes off 85 percent of the OCS which was getting ready to come open for leasing,” Scalise said. “Just last week, the President exposed his agenda when he announced his plan to take future offshore revenues from energy producing states like Louisiana to fund more of his green-energy boondoggles like Solyndra. Instead of pursuing his own pipe dreams at the expense of Louisiana’s coast and economy, President Obama should work with us to develop a long-term plan to promote safe domestic energy production so America can finally eliminate our dependence on Middle Eastern oil.

“The Obama Administration must do more to open up other areas of the OCS so that America can become more energy secure and rely less on Middle Eastern countries for our oil. Today’s sale is a positive step, but it’s unfortunate that the President is still shutting off other areas of America’s OCS. As we’ve seen with today’s lease sale, increased domestic energy development provides not only millions of good American jobs, but it will also provide hundreds of millions of dollars for states like ours where we will use it restore our eroding coast.”

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Issues:Energy