NEW YORK (Reuters) - A top U.S. Democratic senator said in a newspaper
interview published Wednesday that he would consider sup****ting opening up
new areas for offshore oil and gas drilling.
"I'm open to drilling and responsible production," Senate Majority Whip
Richard Durbin told The Wall Street Journal, adding that Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid could also sup****t the move.
However, Durbin said his sup****t for opening new areas to drilling was
contingent on setting requirements that oil and gas companies begin
production within a specified time frame on acreage they have leased from
the government.
The spike in oil prices to record highs above $145 per barrel has prompted
calls for the U.S. government to allow energy producers to explore for oil
and gas off the East and West Coasts and in the eastern region of the Gulf
of Mexico. Those areas are currently off limits to exploration.
Republicans say their efforts to open up new regions for exploration have
been stymied by Democrats.
Democrats say energy companies are producing oil and gas from only about a
quarter of the 91.5 million acres currently leased from the government.
(Re****ting by Matt Daily; editing by John Wallace)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0930217120080709
