Western Lawmakers Point to Inconsistencies in Administration’s Job Rhetoric and Energy Policy

Frustrated by the contradictory remarks made by the President during last night’s State of the Union address, members of the Congressional Western Caucus issued a letter to Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar today highlighting the Department of Interior’s inconsistencies regarding domestic energy production and job creation. These statements follow on the heels of the Department of Interior’s recent decision to impose cumbersome oil and gas regulations that will have a devastating impact on energy-related jobs throughout the country.

“Last night we heard the President state that he is committed to job creation. I am hoping this begins with a reversal of the job-killing policies his Administration implemented last year,” said Western Caucus Chairman Rob Bishop (R-UT).

“The Department’s reforms will simply insert additional, costly layers of bureaucracy while making it more difficult and more costly to develop American energy resources and invest in American Jobs,” the letter states.

The oil and gas industry is one of the nation’s largest employers, supporting over 9 million jobs and generating 7.2% of U.S. gross domestic product. The state share from oil and gas revenues for the states of Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming alone, decreased by over $120 million in the last year, largely due to this Administration’s efforts to curb domestic energy production. The West maintains the highest regional unemployment- 10.7%.

“Your repeated assertion that the previous Administration held an “anywhere, anyhow” policy on oil and gas development is not borne out by the facts. While blaming the previous Administration may earn you applause from environmentalists who oppose any and all domestic energy development, the partisan rhetoric does nothing to create jobs and is actually not supported by the facts,” the letter also states.

Secretary Salazar recently referred to energy producers, many of whom are small-business owners, as “Kings of the World.” In reality, independent producers develop 90% of domestic oil and gas wells. Additionally, these independent producers provide good-paying jobs to many families throughout the West who depend upon the oil and gas industry for long-term employment.

“When it comes to meeting America’s energy needs, we need it all. This principle should also apply to creating jobs and getting our economy back on track,” the letter concludes.


The letter was sent by the following Congressional Western Caucus members and 10 Senators:

HOUSE:
Rep. Rob Bishop
Rep. Wally Herger
Rep. Cynthia Lummis
Rep. Kevin McCarthy
Rep. Don Young
Rep. Dean Heller
Rep. Doug Lamborn
Rep. Mike Coffman
Rep. Jason Chaffetz
Rep. Jeff Flake
Rep. G.T. Thompson
Rep. Tom McClintock


Sen. John Barrasso
Sen. Robert Bennett
Sen. Orrin Hatch
Sen. James Inhofe
Sen. Michael Enzi
Sen. James Risch
Sen. John Thune
Sen. Sam Brownback
Sen. Pat Roberts
Sen. David Vitter