Americans for Prosperity Calls for Congress to Help Economy, Create

Jobs By Fast-Tracking Leases for Energy Exploration ASAP

 Ban on American Energy Exploration Expires at  Midnight Tonight

WASHINGTON – With the Congressional bans on offshore drilling and shale oil exploration set to expire at midnight tonight, the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) today called for fast-tracking government leases for energy exploration to help spur job creation and economic growth. The group will hold an energy rally with more than a thousand of its members in front of the Capitol reflecting pool on October 10, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. to emphasize market-based solutions to energy challenges

“Moving quickly and decisively to lease new areas for energy exploration would create jobs and give our sagging economy a much-needed boost,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “Our victory over the Congressional ban on American energy is a testament to the power of grassroots pressure, but the battle is not won yet. Environmental extremists would love nothing more than to put a stranglehold on new leases.”

The Interior Department is responsible for establishing leasing plans for newly available areas, and according to estimates this process could take years. That’s time environmental extremists – and the Congress members beholden to them – are banking on to enact new bans on energy exploration, according to AFP.

“Radical environmental dogma has no place in our energy policy,” said Phillips. “Increasing energy exploration will lower prices and create jobs at a time when our economy needs it badly. We’re calling on the presidential candidates and all federal lawmakers to go on the record in their support for fast-tracking government leases for energy exploration.”

Americans for Prosperity crisscrossed the nation this year on its “Hot Air Tour,” a nationwide hot air balloon tour which exposed the high economic costs of environmental alarmism.  The group was also the first to spotlight and start building pressure against the idea of extending the bans on offshore drilling and oil shale development as part of a last-minute spending bill.  As part of that coalition effort, AFP led 40 taxpayer groups in an effort that generated thousands of e-mails and phone calls to Members of Congress.

AFP also turned up the heat by publishing the Freedom from Foreign Oil scorecard, which ranked U.S. Representatives based on their support for – or opposition to – policies that would lower gas and energy prices by increasing American energy supplies.  Members of Congress who supported increasing energy supplies were named Friends of the American Motorists and garnered positive news coverage in their home districts, while opponents of lifting the energy bans were named Friends of Foreign Oil.

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is the nation’s premier grassroots organization committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit [1] www.americansforprosperity.org