WA State Senator Honeyford says DRILL

"Unfortunately, the Governor and our two United States Senators appear unwilling to support this additional drilling even as their constituents pay the higher cost for fuel, food prices soar, and we see increases in prices for all products due to the impact of fuel cost on trucking."

The parade of NW Republicans in favor of drilling in the NW continues. Which should give hope to Republicans all around.

The gas prices always were laying out there dormant as a potential issue and I knew the Republicans could pick up on it. And you know what? The people are WITH us on this issue and the Democrats know it.

Here is Senator Honeyford's full statement:


“I applaud the President’s decision to lift the executive order ban on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) and urge Congress to act immediately to help alleviate our nation’s energy dependence on foreign nations.

“According to experts, there are more than 18 billion barrels of oil, or approximately 10 years of current domestic supply, available in the OCS.

“New drilling technology makes environmental impacts from reaching that supply nearly a thing of the past, and tapping into our domestic sources of oil will help send a message to the OPEC oil cartel that we are serious about addressing our energy needs. This will ultimately help drive down prices.

“Unfortunately, the Governor and our two United States Senators appear unwilling to support this additional drilling even as their constituents pay the higher cost for fuel, food prices soar, and we see increases in prices for all products due to the impact of fuel cost on trucking. The average family is paying more than $800 more in gas than they were last year.

“By not supporting domestic exploration, the Democratic leadership in D.C. and Olympia are, by default, supporting the high costs of fuel and the inflation it causes.

“While the President is seeking to move things along at the federal level, I call on my colleagues in the Washington Legislature to begin taking steps to enact a responsible, environmentally-friendly energy agenda for Washington state. We need a comprehensive energy policy that will really save consumers money – not a hodge-podge of ‘feel good legislation’ or a ‘cap and tax’ system that just expands government and limits personal freedom.

“A responsible energy policy must include more refinery permits, more nuclear power, more wind and solar, recognition of hydropower as a renewable fuels source, clean coal, tidal power, and natural gas. We also need to improve the transmission capabilities throughout the Northwest.

“Other specific steps we should consider include:

· encouraging expansion of refinery capacity through, among other things, a more reasonable permitting process;
· saving consumers money on their natural gas and electric bills through a cap on the public utility tax;
· giving renewable electricity developers and investors more certainty by extending and expanding renewable electricity exemptions; and
· examining all environmental and biofuels policies to make sure they are in line with current science and still make economic sense.”

Honeyford is the Ranking Republican Member on the Washington State Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee.

Watch how in the very near future the Democrats start dealing with this issue. At first like a wild animal backed into a corner they will lash out in wild and flailing attempts to change the subject.

Then eventually they will be tamed into talking like a Republican and suggesting they are in favor of off-shore drilling when everyone knows they will be lying.