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Monday, December 27, 2010

Meet the new GOP head of the Science Committee

As we saw that thing bubbling out, blossoming out – all that energy, every minute of every hour of every day of every week – that was tremendous to me. That we could deliver that kind of energy out there – even on an explosion.

I'm glad Rep. Ralph Hall, (R-TX), the new head of the House Science Committee got an emotional lift from seeing a stream of oil flooding into the gulf of Mexico 24/7. Thousands of residents along the coast weren't as excited. They saw their livelihoods being flushed down the crapper.

He's a big 'drill baby drill' fan and can't wait to get his hands on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and get all the oil out of there to solve America's energy future, or a maximum of 2 years supply of oil, depending on whether you believe Sarah Palin or scientists.

What most Americans are blissfully unaware of is that 5,500 current offshore leases are not being used. The oil companies get very nice tax breaks for not using the leases so they are in no hurry to ramp up production and see oil prices drop. The estimated reserves of these 5,500 unused leases is between 5 and 10 times the total estimated reserves in ANWR. Taking away or even reducing the tax breaks for oil companies on their unused leases is not even on the table.

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