Published: May 06, 2008 01:51 pm         

Bunning calls for more domestic oil production

Says nominee for U.S. District Attorney didn't get clearance

FRANKFORT, Ky. — U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning of Kentucky Tuesday dismissed the idea of federal gasoline tax holiday and said America must produce more of its energy needs from the arctic reserve, off-shore drilling, and coal but he said Democrats and environmentalists stand in the way.



He also revealed that an unnamed nominee for U.S. District Attorney for the eastern district submitted by him and Sen. Mitch McConnell could not get past an FBI background check and the post is likely to remain unfilled through the end of President George W. Bush’s administration.



Bunning is one of 15 Republican sponsors – McConnell is another – of the American Energy Production Act of 2008 that would encourage drilling for oil in Alaska, off-shore, and to convert shale and coal to liquid fuels. It would also accelerate development of advanced batteries to power plug-in hybrid vehicles and encourage construction of new domestic oil refineries while suspending purchases for the strategic petroleum reserve for six months.



Bunning said Democrats promised when they took control of Congress in 2006 to lower the cost of gasoline but “have broken that promise and prices are higher and we’re being held hostage to foreign oil.”



He said the “rising cost of energy is probably the biggest thing on the minds of Americans right now,” but thinks a proposal to suspend the 18.4 cents per gallon federal gasoline tax by presidential candidates John McCain and Hillary Clinton is a “short-term fix for a long term problem and it won’t really relieve pressure at the pump.” He said it would cost the federal highway fund between $3.5 and $4 billion.



Instead, Bunning said, Congress should pass the Republican energy bill that would “allow us to start utilizing valuable national resources for fuel,” reduce dependence on foreign imports by up to 10 percent and create jobs and bolster the economy. He said Democrats and environmentalist groups are blocking more domestic oil production.



The price of crude oil surpassed $121 a barrel Tuesday morning on the mercantile exchange and the average price per gallon at the pump was $3.61 for regular unleaded and $4.23 for diesel.



The senator said the bill would also mandate production of six billion barrels of fuel derived from coal by 2022. He said, however, he is not optimistic it will pass the Democratic Congress.



On another matter, Bunning said it’s unlikely now that a new, permanent U.S. District Attorney for the eastern district of Kentucky will be appointed prior to a new administration taking power in January.



“My gut feeling is that with the short time between now and the end of the Bush administration we will continue to have a temporary appointment in that position,” Bunning said. “Everyone seems to think it’s working very well right now.”



The job opened up when previous District Attorney Amul R. Thapur was confirmed for the federal bench. James A. Zerhusen has been acting District Attorney for the district since January.



Bunning would not identify the nominee other than to say he or she did not receive FBI clearance.



“Sen. McConnell and I agreed on a nominee and sent it to the President but the nominee did not get FBI clearance,” he said.



McConnell’s office declined to comment on the vacancy or Bunning’s comment.



Ronnie Ellis writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort, Ky. He may be contacted by email at rellis@cnhi.com.