Running on Empty: Obama Twists Truth on Energy Policies, Budget Proposal

President Doubles Down on Disproven Claims to Defend Failed Energy, Spending Record

CLAIM: Holding a press conference on rising gas prices, among other topics, President Obama suggested that his administration’s energy policies had led to an increase in domestic oil production:

OBAMA: “First, we need to continue to boost domestic production of oil and gas…So any notion that my administration has shut down oil production might make for a good political sound bite but it doesn’t match up with reality. We are encouraging offshore exploration and production.” (Remarks from President Obama,White House Press Conference, 3/11/2011)

FACT: President Obama’s moratorium on oil drilling, followed by what many have dubbed a “de facto” moratorium, has contributed to a decrease in domestic production at a time when it is already falling:

U.S. OIL PRODUCTION IS CURRENTLY FALLING: “The Energy Information Administration estimates that 1.39 million barrels a day will be produced this year, and that the amount will fall to 1.14 million barrels a day by 2012.”(“Republicans Pledge New Legislation for Domestic Energy Production as Gas Prices Rise,” Fox News, 3/10/11)

Energy Information Administration (EIA)’s 2007 projection for 2010 production: 850 million barrels (“Oil and Natural Gas Market Supply and Renewable Portfolio Standard Impacts of Selected Provisions of H.R. 3221,” Energy Information Administration, December 2007)
EIA 2010 production: 714 million barrels, combined onshore and offshore drilling (Heather Zichal, “Expanding Safe and Responsible Energy Production,” The White House Blog, 3/8/2011)
OBAMA INSTITUTES “DE FACTO MORATORIUM”: “Gulf state lawmakers and the oil industry have accused the department of dragging its feet on the permits,enacting a de facto moratorium against new drilling, while the department has said it needs to ensure that safety and environmental protections are in place.” (Dan Berman and Darren Goode, “Interior Appeals Oil Drilling Ruling,” Politico, 3/4/2011)

The Obama Administration is appealing a court order to take action on outstanding offshore drilling permits. “U.S. offshore regulators asked a New Orleans appellate court to postpone a judge’s March 19 deadline for them to act on certain Gulf of Mexico drilling permits delayed by the Obama Administration’s drilling ban.” (Laurel Brubaker Calkins and Allen Johnson Jr., “U.S. Appeals for Delay in 30-Day Order on Drill Permits,” Bloomberg, 3/11/11)

CLAIM: Obama reiterated Democrats’ talking point that his budget proposal meets Republicans “half” of the way to their proposal for $61 billion in cuts.

“The Democrats have put forward spending cuts, many of them pretty painful, that give Republicans already half of what they were seeking. Because they’re the right thing to do.” (Remarks from President Obama, White House Press Conference, 3/11/2011)

FACT: This claim by Democrats that they are meeting the GOP “halfway” on spending cuts has been widely debunked and ridiculed by commentators. Eleven Senate Democrats voted against Obama’s own budget proposal, with several citing the fact that it did not go far enough on cuts.

THE WASHINGTON POST: “The Democrats’ posturing that they have met Republicans ‘halfway’ on budget cuts does them no credit. Either they should take a stand and say they won’t accept any further cuts, or they should begin a real negotiation that leads to a higher number. Obama signaled he was willing to deal when he said he was ‘prepared to do more.’ But the persistent claims of going ‘halfway’ when in fact Democrats have done little to engage Republicans on the issue will only hurt their credibility in the long run.” (Glen Kessler, “Obama and the White House’s ‘Halfway’ Fixation With the Budget,” The Washington Post, 3/8/2011)

ELEVEN SENATE DEMOCRATS VOTE AGAINST OBAMA SPENDING PROPOSAL:Final Vote: 42-58. (Roll Call Vote #37, United States Senate Clerk, 3/9/2011)

DEMOCRATS SUGGEST OBAMA “IN DENIAL,” CALL HIS PROPOSAL AN “INADEQUATE RESPONSE” TO DEBT: “[A] Democratic budget alternative failed 58-42 after a mix of moderates and liberals walked away, calling the proposal an inadequate response to the debt problems facing the nation.

“ ‘Many people are in denial around here,’ Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) told her colleagues.

“ ‘Any plan to tackle our fiscal crisis must make a material difference in reducing the deficit,’ said Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Col.). ‘And everyone should be asked to shoulder part of the burden.’” (David Rogers, “Senate Dems Push for Spending Deal,”Politico, 3/9/2011)