Bush urges Congress to end offshore oil drill ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) President George W. Bush urged Congress on Wednesday to end a ban on offshore oil drilling, responding to consumer anxiety over soaring gasoline prices with a plan sure to anger environmentalists.

President Bush walks with Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne (L) and Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman through the colonnade to make a statement on oil drilling and energy in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington June 18, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young

American who drives to work, purchases food or ships a product canada goose clearance has felt the effect. uk canada goose And families across our country are looking to Washington for a response, Bush said. pump Canada Goose Online prices pierced the $4 a gallon ($1.06 a litre) level for the first canada goose uk black friday time this month, up more than $1 from Canada Goose goose black friday Coats On Sale a year ago, energy policy has become a key issue in the presidential race canada goose store ahead of November elections. coast where oil drilling has been canada goose coats banned by both a presidential executive order and a congressional moratorium could yield about 18 billion barrels of oil. canada goose uk shop offshore oil drilling

The short term impact on oil prices is open to debate. The prospect of more energy supply down the road cheap Canada Goose could calm nervous traders who see cheap canada goose uk a looming global oil crunch but any actual supply would be years away, even if Congress acted quickly.

Congress banned most offshore drilling in 1981. history.

The White House said Congress should lift the moratorium first and then Bush would end the executive order because presidential canada goose uk outlet action alone canada goose would not lead to new offshore drilling.

President Bush walks through the colonnade to make a statement on oil drilling and energy in the Rose Garden at Canada Goose online the White House in Washington, June canadian goose jacket 18, 2008. REUTERS/Jim Young

TRADING BLAME Bush latest energy plan adds intensity to a war of words on Capitol Hill over who is to canada goose black friday sale blame. If lawmakers leave for their July 4 holiday buy canada goose jacket cheap without action, they will face the wrath of their constituents, Bush said.

Bush and fellow Republicans have repeatedly canada goose coats on sale blamed Democrats for blocking legislation that would open offshore lands and the Arctic National Canada Goose Jackets Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to drilling.

on Capitol Hill have rejected virtually every proposal and now Americans are paying the price at the pump for this obstruction, Bush said.

But California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, declined to support Bush plan, calling his state coastline international treasure.

A gasoline pump nozzle is seen at a gas station in Arlington, Virginia, June 11, 2008. consumption.

White House has become a ventriloquist for the oil and canadagoosejacketsalesca Canada Goose Parka gas industry repeating the requests of the oil and gas industry that they be allowed to destroy the most pristine areas of our country, said Rep. Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat.

About 60 percent of Canada Goose Outlet Americans support canada goose clearance sale government moves to encourage more oil drilling and refinery construction as a way to buy canada goose jacket combat soaring energy prices but the same number also profess to be in favor of conservation, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Republicans, including presidential candidate John McCain, increasingly support lifting the offshore drilling ban. The Arizona senator announced his backing this week after opposing it in the past.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and members of his party oppose expanded offshore drilling on environmental grounds and say such action would have little immediate impact on fuel uk canada goose outlet prices.

Analysts say canada goose factory sale the chances that Congress will drop its ban during an election year are slim.

answer: Don bet on Canada Goose sale it, a Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Co Inc report said.

Environmental groups have long opposed expanded offshore oil drilling, raising concerns about the dangers to fragile ecosystems as well as a potential for spills.

cynical to say that we can drill our way out of this mess, said Athan Manuel, director of lands protection for the Sierra Club. solution to $4 gas is not off our coast.