Skip to main content

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY GAS PRICES

May 20, 2004

MAY 20, 2004

SCHAKOWSKY: BUSH ADMINISTRATION MISSTATEMENT OF THE DAY -
GAS PRICES

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) issued "The Bush Administration Misstatement of the Day" on gas prices.

President Bush said during a Cabinet meeting yesterday, May 19, 2004:

".had ANWR been passed -- had it not been vetoed in the past, we anticipate an additional million barrels of oil would have been coming out of that part of the world, which would obviously have a positive impact for today's consumers.If people had acted on my energy bill when I submitted it three years ago, we would be in a much better situation today."
However, experts have stated that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) would not have any impact on short-term gasoline prices.
  • Production from ANWR will not come on line for ten years or more, given the start-up time required for leasing through production. (Testimony of David J. Hayes; CRS Report on ANWR; White House Press Release of March 18, 2000, detailing the President's comprehensive energy plan).
In addition, estimates indicate that ANWR has only a six-month supply of economically recoverable oil.