Congressman Steve Kagen (D- Appleton) calls the Bush administration's energy plan, "drilling and burning, drilling and burning." The President called on Congress Wednesday to lift the ban on off shore domestic drilling.
While speaking to reporters, Kagen says oil firms aren't even using what land they have now. He claims oil companies have tapped only 12 million acres of the 80 million that has been leased to them.
Some Republicans including John Gard , whose challenging Kagen, assert that China is drilling near Florida in Cuban waters. The claim, often disputed , essentially warns unfriendly foreign governments are getting to the resource before American companies do.
"I'm not excited about what foreign countries are doing. I don't represent China or Cuba. I represent the hard working people of Northeast Wisconsin and I'm working very hard every day to guarantee that their money is more valuable so it can go further in their economy."
The Appleton Democrat believes other energy sources like wind, solar and nuclear need to be fully utilized.
AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :70)
