Obama Looking at Offshore Drilling, as a Means to an End
In a Reuters article, it was reported that the Obama administration is expected to announce by Wednesday its updated plan for oil and natural gas drilling in U.S. waters, including whether to allow exploration for the first time along the U.S. East Coast.
The administration plan could open up drilling across the nation that would ease our reliance on middle-eastern oil, or it could be another bait-and-switch tactic. It’s hard to tell as:
The Interior Department and White House declined comment on Monday on whether Obama would speak to the issue in a speech slated for mid-morning on Wednesday at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
The question remains, why would Obama suddenly decide that offshore or expanded drilling makes sense? He’s been a hard-line, anti-drill, hard-line, uber-environmentalist-friendly politician forever. As with everything for Obama, there must be something in it for him.. and there is.
But Obama, who wants Congress to move a stalled climate change bill, has sought to reach out to Republicans by signaling he is open to allowing offshore drilling, providing coastlines are protected.
In a sudden realization that bi-partisanship is a good, Obama has decided to drop a carrot to the conservative side of the isle. What the GOP must be wary of, is that the carrot will be pulled as soon as they bite. The drilling moratorium was lifted by G.W. Bush, because it had been an executive order – easily reversible. Imagine how easy it will be for Obama to change his mind right after Republicans vote for his cap and tax plan?
It may be difficult to believe that the administration could pull the rug out from anyone after getting their support, but consider that the health care reform act passed the CBO with the assumption that the Medicare pay-cut for doctors would continue. Today there were rumors that Ms. Sebelius, Obama’s Health and Human Services Secretary is working to rescind those cuts which would cause Obamacare to add to the deficit starting this year and continuing into the foreseeable future.
Doctors slated to have their Medicare reimbursements cut 21 percent on April 1 got a reprieve from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is delaying lowered payments until after Congress reconvenes.
Obama isn’t thinking about allowing increased drilling. He’s campaigning for cap and trade, and he needs a few conservatives to go along – a few Republicans that want to lose their jobs.