Blunt: As Oil Crosses $140, Republicans, Democrats Vote Down Dem Leadership's Sham 'Use It or Lose It' Bill

WASHINGTON, June 26 Blunt-oil-LoseIt-bill


WASHINGTON, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --  House Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) issued the following statement today after 19 Democrats joined 176 Republicans in defeating an effort by Democratic leaders to create the impression they're working to reduce the price of gasoline, but in reality making it more difficult for American energy firms to produce American energy for American consumers: 



"Fully aware that their 'use it or lose it' bill had been thoroughly discredited by independent geologists, outside experts, and even members of their own caucus, Democratic leaders brought forth this bill anyway today knowing it had no chance of earning passage. And while they may think that's an appropriate use of floor time before leaving for recess, I don't know that the millions of American families struggling to make ends meet in a world of $140 oil would agree. 



"Substantively, this bill is at best duplicative - 'use it or lose it' is already the law of the land, as some Democrats reminded their colleagues on the floor. Contrast that with a plan introduced by Rep. Mary Fallin (R-Okla.) today - an honest piece of legislation that takes genuine steps to expedite the permitting and approval process for energy exploration on leased lands. 



"The Fallin plan would immediately add new energy supply to the pipeline, and trigger an immediate price reduction at the pump. The Rahall plan would do none of that - because it wasn't written to. Unfortunately for the American people, today we wasted valuable floor time on the latter - instead of working together in a serious way to pass the former."



NOTE: More information about Congresswoman Fallin's legislation can be found here: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ok05_fallin/energyleg.shtml 





SOURCE  House Republican Whip Roy Blunt