Salazar Defends Moratorium, Promotes Safe Energy Future

Philip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar told members of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Thursday he hopes the country will learn from the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and defended a moratorium on deepwater drilling imposed by the Obama administration.

Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) expressed outraged with the administration’s response to the spill, saying the temporary drilling ban “doesn’t make any sense to me.” Burton said he feared rigs will move to other countries, leaving many American workers without jobs.

Salazar defended the moratorium, saying it is necessary when “all of our resources are focused” on the current spill.

Salzar said he hopes that the Gulf can be restored to a condition “better than it was before April 20,” and that the country will invest in safer oil and gas acquisition methods.

“[We must] embrace the new energy future of America with a much broader portfolio including wind, solar, and geothermal energy,” the embattled Secretary said.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) voiced concern over the nation’s energy policy as a whole, calling offshore drilling exploitive of the environment.

“We need to start thinking about [how] our system is collapsing.”

$55 Billion in Fraud Anticipated

University of New Mexico, Talk Radio News

At the House Committee on Oversight & Government Reform Earl Devaney, chairman of the Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board, said that he was creating a user friendly website: http://www.doioig.gov/index.php?menuid=460&viewid=613&viewtype=PAGE , and that some reporters are already using it.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) asked Devaney for assurance that the Recovery Act funds that have gone to existing programs are being spent quickly. Devaney said that he could not provide that.

Dan Burton (R-Ind.) asked Devaney about an expected $55 billion in fraud as the Recovery Act funds go out. Devaney confirmed that about seven percent fraud is a credible estimate, and the best law enforcement can provide is zero tolerance.

Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-Tenn.) points out that not all of the stimulus money is creating jobs, citing $40 million in his own district that went to raises, standing bills and only two new jobs.

Rep. Terry: "hot air" from democrats could heat our homes

"Animals are getting under the Alaska pipeline to keep warm!" Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said this afternoon in defense of opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) for oil drilling. Republicans joined Burton on the floor of the US House of Representatives today to continue their push for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to call an emergency session of Congress.

Burton also expressed a sense of urgency for Americans to find energy independence. "If you think the Saudis are our friend, you've got another thing coming," he said. Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.) echoed Burton's sentiments, also calling out proposed solutions from the Democrats as "hot air". "We could probably make ourselves energy independent right there," he said. "If we use the hot air from the Democrats to heat our homes."

In regards to Speaker Pelosi and her decision to call for a 5 week recess in light of sky-high fuel prices, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said, "I know she didn't mean to do this, but our Speaker is the best friend OPEC's got."