When it comes to oil, California is the new Nebraska
The Obama administration thinks that off shore oil drilling is important to meet America’s energy needs. However, it is only important enough to open up underwater oil fields off the southern Atlantic coast, Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. California and the West Coast states are treated differently where off shore oil drilling is still prohibited.
Guess this continues the Washington trend of cutting political deals to move the ball on big issues. California, Washington and Oregon fall into the same class as Nebraska. Recall in the heated healthcare debate Nebraska was given concessions to secure a crucial congressional vote.
In the case of California, the administration is not so much after the votes of senators or congress members but to help keep the biggest bundle of electoral votes in the president’s corner.
You can read more about the red state versus blue state oil strategy in Robert Salladay’s California Watch column here.
The Schwarzenegger administration still plans to pursue its goal of drilling off the Santa Barbara coast, a plan, by the way, that is supported by many environmentalists in the Santa Barbara area. Not only would the oil drilling produce energy for the state, but would add dollars to the government coffers, and provide environmental incentives as well. Such a package should be applied to a wider range of oil producing fields off the coast.
Let’s give the president kudos for moving forward with an energy plan that will certainly cause him heartburn with some supporters.
Combining stepped up exploration for traditional energy resources, pursuing nuclear energy, while developing and phasing in alternative and natural energy resources is a realistic plan the American people could support