Aug 12, 2008 5:57 pm US/Pacific
Pelosi Open To Vote On Offshore Oil Drilling
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS) ―
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco reversed her
opposition to a vote on offshore oil drilling on Tuesday, telling CBS
Station KPIX-TV in San Francisco that she would consider a vote on it if
drilling were part of a larger energy package.
Pelosi and fellow House Democrats had staunchly opposed Republicans' request for a vote on offshore drilling previously.
In her interview, Pelosi said such a vote would need to be part of a larger plan that would include releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which could lower gas prices very quickly.
KPIX-TV: "Are you open now to having a vote for offshore drilling?"
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "We will have a vote, its not strictly on offshore drilling, we'll have a vote on an array of initiatives that will protect the consumer, that will increase the domestic supply and that will reverse global warming. And among those may be some restricting drilling in protected areas, if they can comply with the three criteria that I mentioned."
KPIX-TV: "Have you changed your position on offshore drilling?
Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "Absolutely not. The gimmick that the Republicans have come up with — drill, drill, drill in the protected areas and it will bring down the price of oil is a complete misrepresneation to the American people. There are plenty of places we've had to drill at — 68 million acres in the lower 48 where people can drill, more than 10 million acres in Alaska which are permitted for drilling."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Comments