Bush Backs McCain's Call for Drilling

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said yesterday that President Bush supports lifting the ban on oil and gas exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf and will formally ask Congress to lift the federal moratoria preventing drilling off the nation's coasts.

"The president believes Congress shouldn't waste any more time. He will explicitly call on Congress to ... pass legislation lifting the congressional ban on safe, environmentally friendly offshore oil drilling."

The move by the White House is something of a coordinated effort with Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain, who yesterday called for lifting the drilling ban.

Congress has prevented the Interior Department from initiating offshore drilling leases since 1981 by refusing to approve funds for that purpose. There is also an Executive Order, signed by the first President Bush, preventing drilling. The Executive Order has been extended by President Clinton and President George W. Bush until 2012. The president has not yet announced whether he would rescind the order as part of his effort to get Congress to act on the drilling ban; but should he do so, it would be a strong indication that his Administration intends to pressure Congress over gas prices throughout the summer driving season and the fall election season. For its part, Congress has other plans. A group of lawmakers is considering an extension to the drilling ban, with the House Appropriations Committee set to consider the measure today.


Rising gas prices are fast becoming issue number one in the presidential election and are sure to be a big concern of voters in the Congressional races as well. The issue provides voters with a sharp contrast between the parties and candidates. McCain has called for a suspension of the gasoline tax and increased energy production as a means of combating high prices at the pump. His rival, Sen. Barack Obama, wants more money put into alternative fuels and a windfall profits tax on the oil companies. Right now, McCain is winning on the issue, as polls show that large majorities of the public favor increased exploration, believing that it will help lower prices. The issue has become so important and politically charged, that the candidate who can convince voters that his plan will have the most direct impact on their bottom line will stand a good chance of wining in November.