President Bush will speak today at a Cleveland electric company on energy solutions, seeking to keep up pressure on Democrats to allow an expansion of offshore drilling, the White House said this morning.
White House press secretary Dana Perino said that Democrats are “undemocratically” blocking votes on energy solutions such as drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf along U.S. coasts, increasing production of oil shale and “streamlining” permitting for new oil refineries.
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Democrats, Mrs. Perino said, “should listen to the calls of the American people… . They are clamoring for an answer on this. We believe that Republicans and many Democrats should be allowed to at least have a vote on this before they leave for recess.”
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, has in fact offered Republicans four votes on amendments to the energy legislation, but that may not be enough to satisfy Republican demands for a full debate.
The president will speak again tomorrow after a Cabinet meeting on energy solutions, hammering what has become the GOP’s favorite mantra as the fall election nears.
