Key Vote YES on H.R. 1229 Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act

Dear FreedomWorks member,

As one of our million-plus FreedomWorks members nationwide, I urge you to contact your representative and ask him or her to vote YES on H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act. Introduced by Rep. Hastings (R-WA), the bill would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to facilitate the production of American energy resources from the Gulf of Mexico. The Obama administration has delayed or canceled offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. The bill would jump start offshore oil drilling by implementing a 30-day deadline in which the secretary of the U.S. Interior Department would have to make a decision on the Gulf of Mexico drilling permit applications. 

Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act would end the Obama administration’s de facto moratorium in a safe and responsible manner by setting deadlines for considering permits to drill. The effects of the de facto moratorium on offshoring drilling can be felt at the gas pump. Gas prices are surging around the nation. The price of a gallon of gasoline is over $4 in most areas. A recent poll shows that 70 percent of Americans say high gas prices are causing financial hardships. Since the Obama administration imposed new U.S. drilling permit requirements in September 2010, the price of crude oil has increased by 27 percent. The bill is geared towards restarting offshore drilling leases which will ultimately reduce the price of gasoline.

The bill would likely create tens of thousands of jobs and strengthen the economy. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that enacting the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act would not increase government spending. The Department of Interior’s delay in issuing offshore lease sales is having negative economic consequences. Chair of Banking at Louisiana State University Dr. Joseph Mason found that the de facto moratorium could cost 25,000 in the region and 35,000 nationwide. Twelve offshore rigs have already left the Gulf of Mexico and Seahawk drilling has filed for bankruptcy protection. The bill is a step in the right direction to increase America’s energy security.

I urge you to call your representatives today and ask them to support offshore energy development. We will count their vote on H.R. 1229, the Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act as a KEY VOTE when calculating the FreedomWorks Economic Freedom Scorecard for 2011. The Economic Freedom Scorecard is used to determine eligibility for the Jefferson Award, which recognizes members of Congress with voting records that support economic freedom.

Sincerely,
Matt Kibbe
President and CEo
FreedomWorks
[Click here for a pdf version of this letter.]