For Immediate Release – Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Contact: Phil Kerpen (202) 349-5880

WASHINGTON, DC - The grassroots free-market group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today urged the Obama Administration not to stall when issuing new leases for offshore oil and natural gas exploration. This comes on the heels of Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s announcement that he was issuing a six-month delay on beginning the federal leasing process. This decision is especially vexing considering that President Obama has long promised an ‘all of the above’ approach to the nation’s energy concerns.

“We are disturbed to see the new administration has decided to bow to the will of extremist environmental interest groups, instead of doing what is best for the American people,” said AFP Policy Director Phil Kerpen. “In the midst of an economic downturn and a contentious national debate over the so-called ‘stimulus,’ Obama is seeking to stifle an essential component of the nation’s recovery efforts.”

The country won a key battle on its long road to energy independence this past fall when both the executive and congressional bans on offshore exploration were allowed to expire. The American people spoke out loudly against the federal government's complicity in an energy policy that was artificially inflating costs.

“Expanding the country’s ability to power its buildings, heat its homes and fill its gas tanks, while at the same time creating good paying jobs exploring and harnessing our natural resources is basic common sense,” said Kerpen. “While President Obama is trying to stimulate the economy with one hand, with the other he is ensuring that domestic energy production will stagnate. It’s as though the left hand doesn’t know what the far-left hand is doing.”

The six-month delay will end during the height of summer driving season when, undoubtedly, gas prices will be straining family budgets across the country. Americans for Prosperity impels the administration to begin the leasing process as soon as possible to bring relief to millions of Americans who will soon be struggling with energy prices once again.