Bush warns Congress on offshore oil drilling ban

WASHINGTON - President Bush says that if Congress doesn't permit offshore drilling to increase US oil supplies and possibly ease gasoline prices, lawmakers should not expect voters to support them in November.

In his Saturday radio address, Bush said experts assert the Outer Continental Shelf could eventually produce nearly 10 years' worth of US oil production. Yet while record fuel prices have focused more attention on increasing domestic energy production, specialists also note that lifting the congressional ban on offshore drilling wouldn't produce more oil for five to seven years.

Bush accused Democratic leaders in Congress of ignoring the public's demand for relief from high energy prices.

"This is their final chance to take action before the November elections," Bush said, noting that lawmakers soon will recess again to hit the campaign trail. "If members of Congress do not support the American people at the gas pump, then they should not expect the American people to support them at the ballot box."

Congress broke for its August recess without finding agreement on how big a role expanded domestic oil and gas production should have in a broader energy bill.

Lawmakers return tomorrow for a three-week session before leaving again to campaign for the November elections.

There are glimmers of movement on an energy bill, which has eluded Congress all year, mostly over Democratic reluctance to open up more offshore areas to oil drilling.

House Democrats will push for an energy plan that includes limited expansion of offshore drilling, requires power plants to use alternative fuels, and demands oil companies pay additional royalties, a Democratic congressman said yesterday.

"We will consider responsibly opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling while demanding that big oil companies use the leases they have already been issued or return them to the public," Representative John Larson, Democrat of Connecticut, said in the Democrats' weekly radio address.