While depressing, the news this morning that House Democrats plan to cave on offshore drilling was hardly unexpected. As many realize, the existing ban expires September 30th. Any attempt to renew the ban will simply meet a Republican filibuster/veto and regrettably they have public opinion on their side.
Like it or not, it is too late to reverse public opinion on offshore drilling. The Republicans have tricked a large majority of citizens into believe that opening up new lands and waters to oil companies will quickly bring down gas prices. We know that is false, but the Democrats, Obama, and especially the media, have failed to effectively combat that misconception.
"Drill, Baby, Drill!" was the rallying cry at the Republican National Convention. It's a simple, powerful message that no amount of explaining has been able to counter. While the Democrats prepare to give in on offshore drilling, they finally have the opportunity to turn the narrative around with their own catch phrase: "Use It or Lose It!"
What is "Use It or Lose It"?
On June 12th House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall introduced H.R. 6251:
To prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from issuing new Federal oil and gas leases to holders of existing leases who do not diligently develop the lands subject to such existing leases or relinquish such leases, and for other purposes.
It failed. The Senate followed up in July with the Feingold-Dodd-Menendez "Use It or Lose It" Bill, aka The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act, which also failed. Some facts from Feingold's office:
* Oil companies are not producing on over three-quarters of the federal lands and waters they already have under lease.
* Over 100 billion barrels of oil are currently available on federal lands already leased or available for leasing by oil companies.
* The federal government has increased the number of drilling permits by 361% from 1999 to 2007 yet oil companies are not keeping pace. Despite the Bureau of Land Management's issuance of 28,776 permits to drill on public land in the last four years, wells have not been drilled for a third (9,822) - these stockpiled drilling permits provide the quickest way to increase domestic production.
Republicans halted both attempts then, but now they have completely tied their economic platform to "Drill here! Drill Now!" It was practically their convention slogan. Isn't it time to ask them again to help force oil companies to make use of the lands they already have available?
Use It or Lose It!
Fortunately, it looks like House Democrats are preparing to do just that.
Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman John Larson (Conn.) said the majority is prepared to back "responsible" offshore drilling through a bill that could be brought to the floor as early as next week.
But the Democratic energy bill will also include past provisions pushed by the party – but that failed to pass the House with the two-thirds majority required under the procedural rules that Democrats chose to use – including the "use it or lose it" provision and a release of oil from the strategic reserve.
"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," Larson said Saturday in the Democratic response to the President’s radio address.
It's regrettable that the Democrats need to compromise on offshore drilling, but that is no reason to give the Republicans a complete win on the issue. If they want to get their giveaway to the oil companies, they're going to have to either force those same companies to actually start drilling, or explain to the American public why they won't.
Whether the Republicans fight the issue or not, Democrats everywhere need to start pushing the "Use It or Lose It" narrative whenever they are talking about oil drilling. It is the only way to salvage anything from this depressing public perception failure and, hopefully, turn it around.
If the Republicans resist...
If history repeats itself, and the Republicans object to "Use It or Lose It," we need to beat them over the head with their own slogans. They have tied themselves firmly to the idea that oil companies should be wringing every last drop possible out of American soil, yet they're willing to let Big Oil sit on millions of acres of un-drilled land? That's downright unpatriotic! Drilling on existing leases would bring relief to Americans faster than any new leases Republicans are proposing.
Republicans on all levels, including McCain, have already advocated an "All of the above" approach:
New drilling has to be part of our energy solution. It will not solve this problem alone. Alternative energy will not solve this problem alone. Conservation will not solve this problem alone. Solving our energy crisis requires an "all of the above" approach.
- John McCain, August 19, 2008
For them to object to any energy solution, let alone forcing oil companies to drill, would be political suicide. Put them on the defensive. Make them explain. Make them sweat. Most importantly, keep reinforcing the narrative: "Use It or Lose It!"
If the Republicans go along...
While it would be fun to watch Republicans try to explain why we should be giving Big Oil more leases when they're not using the ones they have, there's a chance that they might realize what a problem that would be and let the new bill pass. If this looks like it's going to happen, Democrats need to get ahead of the issue and stake their claim to everything they can in the new bill, including "Use It or Lose It." Republicans will try to claim victory, and plenty in the media will frame it as another instance of the Democrats caving.
That's why Senators, Congresspeople, and anyone with a soapbox need to emphasize all of the important energy initiatives that the Democrats are bringing to the bill as it is introduced and after it passes. The Republicans may come through for their oil buddies and tout a victory that won't help struggling Americans, but that doesn't mean we can't come out looking good, too.
Own the Narrative.
The "Use It or Lose It" narrative is a political winner. Besides being a catchy slogan, it is easy to explain and hard to argue with. No American in favor of the simplified "offshore drilling" argument would disagree with "more, quicker, easier onshore and offshore drilling." The only people that would object are the oil companies, who want the financial benefits of the leases without actually having to spend money to produce oil, and Republicans, who want to protect their oil company donors.
We missed our chance to define the oil debate this summer. We let Republicans sway public opinion with bumper-sticker politics. We've allowed McCain to close the economic gap with empty promises. That doesn't mean we can't turn it around.