By PATRICK CONDON , Associated Press
Just back from a congressional tour of energy sites in Colorado and Alaska, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann said Tuesday that the United States must tap its energy reserves and that only Congress is standing in the way of making a dent in rising fuel costs.
On a conference call with reporters, Bachmann said Congress should open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, and allow for the expansion of oil exploration in other areas including Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota and off the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts.
The Republican from Minnesota's 6th Congressional District repeated her assertion that if the U.S. more thoroughly taps its own energy sources, gas prices could be cut in half back to around $2 a gallon. She said it would send a signal to the world market that the U.S. is serious about addressing oil prices.
"It's like having a room full of hungry children and a pantry full of food with a lock on it," is how Bachmann described the refusal of congressional leaders to authorize more domestic energy production.
Energy experts have disputed the idea that authorizing more domestic drilling would have much impact on global oil prices anytime in the near future. Elwyn Tinklenberg, the endorsed Democratic candidate seeking to unseat Bachmann in the 6th District, called her plan "just not credible by any measure or standard."
Tinklenberg is opposed to drilling in ANWR, but said he would support more domestic drilling in areas where oil companies already hold leases. He said Congress should also move to dampen speculation in the oil market; on Tuesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a Democratic bill that attempts to curb oil speculation. Democratic leaders in Congress have mostly indicated they are opposed to allowing more offshore drilling.
Comments (4)
Michele Bachmann for Senate! This woman needs more power. Too bad the liberals are so mean.
Great article.
Posted by William Wallace | July 23, 2008 12:51 AM
Posted on July 23, 2008 00:51
Michelle...crawl back under your rock....MN does NOT need any more idiots like you in Congress
Posted by JoAnn Larson | August 13, 2008 2:46 AM
Posted on August 13, 2008 02:46
Michelle Bachmann is the only state politician I have contributed to in the last several years. She is a class act who knows her stuff. Libs like JoAnn Larson detest her and Governor Palin because they challenge the Green Religion with facts. I'm sure Ms. Larson believes the AGW scam hook line and sinker. I'll wager she's attending or a grad of the U, aka Moscow on the Minnesota.
Posted by chuck in st paul | September 15, 2008 5:10 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 17:10
clarification:
"state politician", meaning politician from Minnesota
Posted by chuck in st paul | September 15, 2008 5:12 PM
Posted on September 15, 2008 17:12