President Bush will lift the 18-year old Executive Order banning offshore oil drilling this afternoon, putting the ball squarely in Congress’ court to allow drilling for lower energy prices.
The executive order was enacted by Bush’s father in 1990 when gas was $1.16 a gallon to strengthen the existing Congressional ban. The order was extended through 2012 in 1998 when gas was $1.06 a gallon by President Clinton.
WASHINGTON – President Bush will lift an executive ban on offshore oil drilling, although new oil exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf will remain off limits until Congress also takes action.
The president will make a Rose Garden statement on Monday, where he is expected to announce his lifting of the ban.
White House press secretary Dana Perino says Bush is acting now in hopes of spurring Congress to act. So far, lawmakers have shown no interest in doing so.
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