McCain: Offshore drilling could effect gas prices "immediately"

John McCain tells Katie Couric on CBS tonight that the US should start offshore drilling "quickly."

Asked about what he's proposing other than a "summer gas tax holiday that no one thinks will pass," McCain said lifting the moratorium along the US coast could offer frustrated drivers a boost.

"We quickly have to go offshore if the states let us and explore and exploit those areas," he said. "If you lift the moratorium on offshore exploration then I think that will send a signal and have an effect on gas prices immediately. You know that we’re going to find and exploit our resources. That’s a short term issue."

On the much-maligned gas tax holiday, he says, it was "just a chance to give some people a little bit of a relief that’s all it was. A lot of people say it was a gimmick and wouldn’t work."

Comments

[Clavos]

Drilling might also affect gas prices.

[michaelt]

OK, are we scared enough yet? Here we have the threat of higher gas prices and all of our politicians (Sen. Nelson excepted) are caving to the oil industry. 'Give us your offshore drilling', they say, 'or we will raise prices even more. Plus, we might even lower prices a little, if you give in now - before the election.'

Where are the the LEADERS in our country? Show me someone with guts enough to stand up to these people who dance in step with Mideast Oil Sheiks. The oil companies and their accomplice politicians are selling OUR national resource to the highest bidders. Florida's offshore oil can't even dent the international demand for oil, plus the impact on supply is years away.

So why not take that time and invest in alternative fuels? Perhaps we could be like Brazil and actually work our way out of this mess. We used to understand that it only delays the inevitable when we give in to blackmail and threats. We've already given our economy and over 4000 soldiers, how much more?

[x]

You have got to be kidding. Without any laws to govern pricing, the oil companies have us at their mercy. They won't drop the price of gas, just screw with us like the joke that was the fines for the Valdez diaster.