Senators At Odds Over Moratorium

By Miles Wolf Tamboli-Talk Radio News Service

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing Thursday to discuss a number of bills related to oil regulation and the Deepwater Horizon spill, which has just recently been re-capped after a pipe was allegedly damaged by a remotely-controlled robot, although oil can still be seen spewing from the pipe at an unknown rate.

However, lawmakers seem to have been distracted by debates over the 6-month moratorium on off-shore drilling exploration in the Gulf, which was lifted earlier in the week by a federal judge in New Orleans, as well as skepticism over the legitimacy of the presidential commission that recommended the drilling ban.

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) expressed the views of many legislators, saying that it is "common sense" to stop drilling, at least on the rigs that are in development and not yet producing oil, until the disaster can be better understood.

Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu (D), however, stated that she "fiercely" disagrees with the moratorium. Although the ban only applies to 33 oil rigs, Landrieu argued that an economic analysis in the state has concluded that a moratorium could threaten 46,200 jobs and lost wages could amount to $5 to $10 million dollars per month.

The Senior Senator from the state that may prove to be the most impacted by the disaster cited job creation legislation Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is trying to pass, and stated that, "if we don't get this right we're going to eliminate every job that we're trying to create by putting people out of work in the Gulf."

Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) attacked the motives behind the President's oil spill commission, calling it, "stacked with people who philosophically oppose offshore exploration."

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar contended that the ban was, "not an ideological issue."

"With all due respect, the President, in choosing the members of this commission, chose the kinds of statesmen who, I believe, will transcend partisan politics and ideology," said Salazar.

Despite Effects Of Spill, Deceased Workers' Wives Say Keep Drilling

By Miles Wolf Tamboli - Talk Radio News

Natalie Roshto and Courtney Kemp, wives of workers killed in the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion on April 20th, told a Congressional panel Monday that the U.S. should continue to allow off-shore drilling, despite the impact of the massive oil spill in the Gulf Coast.

"While we realize we are suffering from economic impacts resulting from the leaking oil, it would be even more devastating if you allow drilling in the Gulf to cease," Kemp of Jonesville, Louisiana said. "The trickle-down effect would be devastating not only to the coastal states, but eventually the entire country."

"Many men depend on offshore drilling. That is our way of life," added Roshto of Liberty, Mississippi.

The widows' remarks came during a field hearing of a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee in Chalmette, Louisiana.

The opinions of both were echoed by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), who sits on the subcommittee.

"The ban on drilling threatens to pose an economic disaster on [Louisiana]," said Scalise. "You don't hold an entire industry accountable for the failures of one [company]."