He opposes provision to prevent challenges to drilling permits 'that are not environmentally sound'
Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, was one of 33 House Democrats to support the first of three Republican-sponsored bills intended to increase the pace and scope of oil and gas drilling.
View full sizeThis oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico was photographed in April 2009. But after backing the bill to require the Obama administration to move ahead with lease sales, including three in the Gulf of Mexico that were canceled after the BP oil spill, Richmond voted with most of his fellow Democrats against the two subsequent bills: to tighten the timeline for permitting and to open stretches of the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts for lease sales.
Indeed, just as the House was about to open debate on those two bills, Richmond came to the House floor to deliver what he described as a "public service announcement," suggesting to the Republican majority that now is the time to "start governing and stop campaigning."
Richmond complained that even if it were true that the two bills would lower gas prices, "why would you bring a bill to the floor that expedites drilling permits, which I could agree with, but you add in a provision to strip the American people's right to challenge drilling permits that are not environmentally sound?"
And, Richmond continued, "Let's look at the next bill, 'Reversing President Obama's Offshore Moratorium Act.' That isn't the name of bill," said Richmond. "That's the name of a campaign speech."
Bruce Alpert can be reached at balpert@timespicayune.com or 202.857.5131. Jonathan Tilove can be reached at jtilove@timespicayune.com or 202.857.5125.