Kline returns to DC to help Big Oil

After attending a parade over the weekend, Rep. John Kline (R-MN02) returned to Washington, DC to continue the Republicans "Drill Here, Drill Now" shenanigans. They are protesting Congress being out on August recess without an energy bill finalized. The reality is that they are protesting two achieve two aims:

• Use drilling in Alaska and the Outer Continental Shelf as a wedge issue in the 2008 election.
• Get more giveaways for their buddies in Big Oil.

All the "Drill Here, Drill Now" talk is a lie. Big Oil has many, many leases for drilling that they are not currently using. If they really wanted to start drilling immediately, they could have been drilling yesterday, last week last year on the leases they already have. Why would they begin drilling? Why would they add extra expenses when profits are so high? Furthermore, any drilling rights Congress might grant wouldn't produce anything for at least a decade and there is a 50% chance (p. 26 of report) that any particular find wouldn't amount to anything. In addition, the Roadblock Republicans ... now converting as you read this into the Drill-Here-Drill-Now Republicans ... blocked every attempt to pass legislation to address our addiction to foreign oil, cut back on hand-outs to Big Oil and promote alternative energy. Last but not least let's not forget how much filthy lucre Kline has received from Big Oil:

John Kline (R-MN- $118,705)
(Politics and Hypocrisy)