Lois Capps: “There is an old saying that goes: when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. These days, it seems…”

“There is an old saying that goes: when all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. These days, it seems the Republican toolbox is down to just one tool. Because for all of the energy choices available to America, every Republican energy plan centers on one thing, drilling for more oil. First it was simply: drill here, drill now. Well, we are. There is more drilling taking place in the U.S. lands and water now than during the Bush administration. Indeed, last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years. Clean, renewable energy usage is at an all-time high as well. Then it was: drill for energy independence. It sounds great, but unfortunately we can't simply drill our way to energy independence. Even with all of the expanded drilling we are doing, the plain fact is that we use too much oil and have too few domestic reserves. Next it was: drilling will create jobs and put everyone back to work. That claim was based on borderline fictional numbers in a report bought and paid for--surprise--by the oil industry. Now House Republicans have found a new problem that can only be solved by opening more of the country to risky and reckless drilling: filling the funding gap in the highway trust fund. Their latest proposal would combine three bills to open more of America's most sensitive lands and waters to drilling. Supposedly, this is how we are going to fund repairs to America's crumbling bridges and highways.…”