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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Drill, baby, drill
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Drill, baby, drill.”
That chant swept the GOP convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul — and in large measure, credit for what now appears to be success goes to two Georgia Congressmen, Tom Price of Roswell and Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville.
Their almost spontaneous campaign to force House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to allow an up-or-down vote on offshore drilling captured the country’s attention and the hearts of rank-and-file Republicans desperate for leaders willing to fight for principle.
It was almost spontaneous because a contingent of conservative Republicans had planned speeches just before Congress recessed in August. Democratic leaders got word of the planned speeches. To shut them down, Pelosi abruptly gaveled the House to adjournment at 11:23 a.m. on recess day as Westmoreland, Price and Indiana Republican Mike Pence stood waiting to deliver their five-minute speeches.
Pelosi knew that with gas at $4 a gallon, voters were ready to see Congress take some decisive action, specifically to include domestic exploration and production. So she shut the upstarts down with the quick gavel.
Or so she thought. Westmoreland and Price quickly agreed to speak anyway — to an empty chamber, if necessary, and without microphone or cameras. They were joined by others and, lo and behold, the spontaneous eruption proved just the spark dispirited Republicans needed. Clearly by the time the convention rolled around almost a month later, the House revolt had taken root. It sent a vital message: We’ll fight the important battles.
Now it is reported that the lonely crusade launched almost spontaneously by Price, Westmoreland and Pence has succeeded.
Democratic leaders have decided to allow the ban on offshore drilling to expire at the end of this month. House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-Wisc.) announced Tuesday that language to continue the ban will be dropped from a stopgap spending bill.
President Bush did his part in lifting the ban. But for it to be lifted, Congress had to act or to let it expire without action, which they’re now doing.
It doesn’t necessarily mean more exploration. That will be determined by November’s election outcomes.
But it is a great day for those who believe, as John McCain does, that oil and gas exploration should be allowed in promising areas along the Outer Continental Shelf. It’s a great day, too, for Westmoreland and Price. Their speeches to an empty chamber were heard across America — then in Congress.
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