Jun 16, 2008 6:39 pm US/Central
Bachmann Pushes For More Oil Drilling In U.S.
WASHINGTON (WCCO) ―
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"So this is our answer. The question is one of supply and demand. We want to increase the source of supply, so we can get back to $2 a gallon," said Bachmann.
Courtesy Michele Bachmann
It may sound too good to be true, but Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) says she has a plan to get gasoline back down to $2 a gallon.
Right now across Minnesota, we're paying an average of $3.93. That's actually about 10 cents cheaper than the national average, which is over $4 a gallon.
Bachmann's proposing what she calls the "No More Excuses Energy Act." It's a far-reaching plan to open up oil drilling from Alaska to America's off shore coasts and build more nuclear plants and oil refineries.
"So this is our answer. The question is one of supply and demand. We want to increase the source of supply, so that we can get back to $2 a gallon," said Bachmann.
Bachmann believes it will take about four years to increase America's oil and gas supply. Enough, she claims, to be completely self-sufficient.
At $4 or more for a gallon of gasoline, a lot of people are feeling the pain at the pump. However, there are also a lot of people skeptical of claims that more oil drilling will cut that price in half.
It's unclear how much oil lies undrilled on U.S. government land, and new drilling now could take years to produce a steady supply.
Bachmann's Democratic opponent says the plan continues Bush administration policies favoring oil companies. DFL Congressional candidate Elwyn Tinklenberg offered his thoughts on what those policies have done thus far.
"How are we doing? I mean you get to ask, how are we doing? What are the results? The results are greater dependence on foreign oil, and $4 gasoline," said Tinklenberg.
Bachmann said she is against legislation in Congress that would tax oil companies for what many say are windfall profits resulting from price gouging at the expense of American drivers.
Bachmann's political critics point out this is an election year, and they're describing this as a "vote-for-me-and-I'll-lower-gas-prices" stunt.
Recent national polls show 57 percent of all Americans support opening up new drilling territories, and most Americans say Congress should do something -- anything, to lower prices.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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