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| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
| Directions l American Farm Bureau l Farm Bureau Bank l Privacy Policy l Contact Us l Help l Site Map |
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
Welcome to the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation
The Voice of Louisiana Agriculture
NEW ORLEANS – A member of the state's congressional delegation told Louisiana dairy farmers a more
efficient energy bill is needed to protect the agriculture community.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-New Orleans, made his comments during the
Dairy Conference held at the Louisiana Farm Bureau's 86th annual
meeting here Saturday. About 60 producers attended the dairy meeting. “South Louisiana has
understood for a long time the importance of energy," Scalise said.
"We contribute about 30 percent of the nation's oil and gas. A lot of other
states have had myths that if you're developing energy you're
destroying the environment."
Scalise said the way certain oil companies drilled for oil 20 to 30 years
ago might have damaged the environment, there are safeguards that
prevent such practices today.
"You can drill for oil in a much more environmentally safe way today,"
he said. "A lot of people have been afraid of drilling over the years.
Unfortunately it's taken the price of gasoline to get up to $4 a gallon
for people to start focusing on this issue in a serious way."
He said the U.S. has too many regulations and prohibitions that keep
the country dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
The issue has come to a head in Congress, but you have two very
different approaches to it," Scalise continued. "I've signed on to a
number of bills to increase the supply because I see it as a
supply/demand issue. The reason that oil and gas (prices) are going
so high is because other countries are coming on line.
"You/ve got China and India, with very large populations, becoming
more industrialized," he said. "They are increasing their demand for oil and gas, while at the same time
we've got moratoriums in our country against drilling. Our country's policy acts as if we can just rely on
OPEC for our supply. I don't think we should be in that position."
Scalise said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her leadership in the House have made it very clear "they
don't want to drill in America."
They don't believe in it and think it's horrible for the environment," he said. "I think they are very misguided."
Scalise said one of Pelosi's approaches is to sue OPEC and “require them to drill more."
"On one hand they're saying, "We don't want to drill in our country," but then they want to sue OPEC if they
don't drill more?" he said. "Explain to me how that is a policy and how it's going to lower gas prices. If we
sic the trial lawyers of the United States on OPEC it's only going to raise prices."
Scalise said he's co-sponsored bills that open up the outer continental shelf to drilling.
"That will increase our supply," he said. "Our country could be completely independent from Middle Eastern
oil if we just open up some areas that are right now banned from drilling. If would be great for our economy
and clearly lower gas prices."
Also during the conference Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain presented awards to
former dairy producer Daniel Lyons, of Church Point and Bryan Mitchell, a retired dairyman from Doyline, for
their years of service to the Louisiana dairy industry.
Lyons was a dairy farmer for nearly 40 years, while Mitchell farmed for 60 years.
efficient energy bill is needed to protect the agriculture community.
Rep. Steve Scalise, R-New Orleans, made his comments during the
Dairy Conference held at the Louisiana Farm Bureau's 86th annual
meeting here Saturday. About 60 producers attended the dairy meeting. “South Louisiana has
understood for a long time the importance of energy," Scalise said.
"We contribute about 30 percent of the nation's oil and gas. A lot of other
states have had myths that if you're developing energy you're
destroying the environment."
Scalise said the way certain oil companies drilled for oil 20 to 30 years
ago might have damaged the environment, there are safeguards that
prevent such practices today.
"You can drill for oil in a much more environmentally safe way today,"
he said. "A lot of people have been afraid of drilling over the years.
Unfortunately it's taken the price of gasoline to get up to $4 a gallon
for people to start focusing on this issue in a serious way."
He said the U.S. has too many regulations and prohibitions that keep
the country dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
The issue has come to a head in Congress, but you have two very
different approaches to it," Scalise continued. "I've signed on to a
number of bills to increase the supply because I see it as a
supply/demand issue. The reason that oil and gas (prices) are going
so high is because other countries are coming on line.
"You/ve got China and India, with very large populations, becoming
more industrialized," he said. "They are increasing their demand for oil and gas, while at the same time
we've got moratoriums in our country against drilling. Our country's policy acts as if we can just rely on
OPEC for our supply. I don't think we should be in that position."
Scalise said Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her leadership in the House have made it very clear "they
don't want to drill in America."
They don't believe in it and think it's horrible for the environment," he said. "I think they are very misguided."
Scalise said one of Pelosi's approaches is to sue OPEC and “require them to drill more."
"On one hand they're saying, "We don't want to drill in our country," but then they want to sue OPEC if they
don't drill more?" he said. "Explain to me how that is a policy and how it's going to lower gas prices. If we
sic the trial lawyers of the United States on OPEC it's only going to raise prices."
Scalise said he's co-sponsored bills that open up the outer continental shelf to drilling.
"That will increase our supply," he said. "Our country could be completely independent from Middle Eastern
oil if we just open up some areas that are right now banned from drilling. If would be great for our economy
and clearly lower gas prices."
Also during the conference Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Mike Strain presented awards to
former dairy producer Daniel Lyons, of Church Point and Bryan Mitchell, a retired dairyman from Doyline, for
their years of service to the Louisiana dairy industry.
Lyons was a dairy farmer for nearly 40 years, while Mitchell farmed for 60 years.
Scalise Tells Dairymen Agriculture Needs Strong Energy Bill
By CHUCK CANNON
FB News Contributing Writer
FB News Contributing Writer
| FB NEWS Photo by Bill Sherman |
DRILLING DISCUSSION. Rep.Steve Scalise, R-New Orleans, told dairy
producers Saturday that the U.S. must increase domestic drilling for oil if
the country ever expects to see lower gas prices. Scalise spoke to the Dairy
Conference at the 86th annual Farm Bureau convention.
producers Saturday that the U.S. must increase domestic drilling for oil if
the country ever expects to see lower gas prices. Scalise spoke to the Dairy
Conference at the 86th annual Farm Bureau convention.
