Democrats to blame for high energy prices

To The Daily: Democrats are the main reason we have high gas and energy prices.

In 1995, President Clinton vetoed a bill that permitted drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Had he signed it, we could now be producing up to 2 million more barrels daily for domestic use. Recently these culprits concocted another photo opportunity by holding congressional hearings to blame oil executives for high gas prices.

According to estimates, the U.S. and Canada have more than 1 trillion barrels of shale oil and billions of crude in the Arctic and the outer Continental Shelf. Yet, the senators who grilled the execs most harshly also voted against development of those resources. In 2005, all but two Democrats voted against drilling in the Arctic. Among those voting against Arctic drilling were Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Dick Durbin and Chuck Schumer. Some 91 percent of House Republicans have supported increased production and 86 percent of Democrats have opposed it.

The senators whined publicly about high gas prices and tried to blame oil companies for problems for which they are the main culprits. These senators care nothing about ordinary Americans struggling to buy gas so they can drive to work.

We need more nuclear power, biofuels, windmill power and other alternatives, including conservation; all of which will take years to implement and in the meantime, we need to drill here, drill now and pay less. There is no way the price of oil is going down anytime soon and by electing Democrats the problem will never go away.

Ed Hyatt
Huntsville