Mitch Landrieu: “we are trying to wrap up many important issues before we leave. One issue that has remained elusive at this point is the…”

“we are trying to wrap up many important issues before we leave. One issue that has remained elusive at this point is the solution for our offshore energy bill. The House has passed a version; the Senate has passed a version. I am here to talk about the benefits of the Senate approach to this subject since there seems to be some real confusion on the part of some of the House members about the Senate approach. I have had many private conversations and many meetings, but I thought I might try to clarify a few things as we seek to understand each other a little better. I have great respect for many Members on the House side. Chairman Pombo and others have worked very hard. I know they are very sincere about trying to find new avenues for domestic production. It is most certainly a goal I share and that many Senators in the Senate share, Republicans and Democrats. We have had our arguments, knockdown, drag-out arguments about ANWR. I am clearly on the side that supports production in ANWR. I happen to be in a minority of Democrats on that, and we could never pass that in the Senate, or have not to date. We have been debating it now for 30 years. But there is consensus--there is consensus--in the Senate about opening a significant area in the Gulf of Mexico to help bring much-needed oil and natural gas to this country.”