[StBernard] Fighting Against Obama's Drilling Moratorium

[Westley Annis]

Dear Friend, 

	

Last week President Obama made a decision that is only going to worsen our
economic plight -  he issued a blanket moratorium on deepwater drilling.  

	

A blanket moratorium on deepwater drilling will have the indirect effect of
harming thousands of workers at an estimated 1,400 individuals per rig times
33 rigs.  The Louisiana Department of Economic Development estimates that
the active drilling suspension alone will result in a loss of 3,000 to 6,000
Louisiana jobs in the next two to three weeks and potentially more than
10,000 Louisiana jobs within a few months.  If the suspension of active
drilling activity continues for an extended period, LED estimates that our
state risks losing more than 20,000 existing and potential new Louisiana
jobs in the next 12 to 18 months. 

	

While Louisiana and this country suffers through the current economic
challenges, outright killing a revenue and job-generating industry is the
worst "solution."  It is important that we recognize the long record of
decades of success drilling in the Gulf, and in light of the catastrophic
spill dramatically increase oversight and regulation of the process.  An
outright ban will only exacerbate the current economic situation in Southern
Louisiana. 

	

I will continue to meet with the administration in the coming days and weeks
to urge them to remove the moratorium on Gulf jobs. 

Sincerely,
David Vitter
U.S. Senator