Peterson pleased with Bush’s offshore drilling support

By MIKE REUTHER — Special to The Express
WILLIAMSPORT — U.S. Rep. John Peterson, R-Pleasantville, an outspoken proponent of offshore drilling as a means of further tapping the nation’s energy sources, couldn’t be more pleased that President Bush is now howing his support.

Bush on Wednesday spoke out in favor of drilling and opening up a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil exploration.

“He has certainly brought his voice to the center,” Peterson said.

The congressman has been on a crusade in recent weeks on behalf of deep-sea oil and gas production, appearing on national news shows including the Glen Beck Show and Fox News.

While happy about the president’s support, he said he was disappointed that Bush stopped short of rescinding moratoriums on oil and gas leasing on most of the outer Continental Shelf, three to 200 miles offshore.

Offshore drilling is blocked by both a Congressional ban and an executive order imposed by the president’s father in 1990.

Peterson said with rising fuel prices, the nation is heading toward a crisis.

“For the first time in the history of America, our economic viability is being challenged,” he said.

The Congressman said the U.S. simply cannot wait around for renewable energy sources to solve the nation’s energy problems, especially with business and industry as well as citizens everywhere being negatively affected.

Peterson said he was happy to see U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, speak out in favor as well for offshore drilling, which represents a switch in position for the Republican presidential candidate.

U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock, issued the following statement: “President Bush could overturn his father’s moratorium on drilling if he wanted. Two decades of presidents have kept this moratorium in place. Before we overhaul our bipartisan, environmental policies, we need to guarantee that American oil stays in America because we need relief for our families at the pump.”

Carney further said that he is not concerned about the Chinese economy, but rather, providing relief for “working families right here at home.”

Glenn Thompson, a Republican nominee for the 5th Congressional seat, applauded the president’s support for offshore drilling.

“Yeah, I was glad to see it,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned we have had 20-some years of failed energy policy.”

Thompson said continued reliance on foreign energy sources threatens not only national security, but the economy as well.

He dismissed any environmental concerns regarding drilling.

“We put our environment at risk by relying on foreign oil,” he said, noting that oils spills occur not with drilling but when tankers carrying fuel from overseas overturn.

Mark McCracken, Democratic nominee for the 10th Congressional seat, said he is not totally opposed to drilling.

“The one stipulation I have is that any royalties the government would get for selling off on those leases and allowing that drilling should go to alternative fuels research.”

In that way, he said, the U.S. could prepare for future energy needs.

Chris Hackett, 10th Congressional Republican nominee, has come out in favor of offshore drilling as well as in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, according to his aide, Mark Harris.

Beyond that, Hackett is for exploring alternative energy sources and conserving energy when at all possible, he said.