Landrieu ramps up presssure on Obama to lift drilling moratorium

President
Barack Obama issued the moratorium on deepwater drilling after the
explosion on a BP-leased rig 52 days ago that triggered an underwater
leak from a ruptured well, which has not yet been stemmed.

Landrieu said that ban had been “slapped on without much economic analysis,” and should be lifted.

The
senator said that a protracted ban on drilling could leave many
Louisianans who work in the industry out of work, as the spill
threatens other people in the state who make their livings in
commercial fishing.

“The economic analysis shows that it may
be more detrimental by driving out offshore drilling from our shores,”
she said. “We have to make sure these rigs are safe. But it can be
done.”

The president issued the moratorium on new drilling in
the immediate aftermath of the spill, until an investigation into the
causes and effects of the current spill could be conducted. Obama has
said he looks forward to lifting the moratorium as soon as possible, if
reports warrant such a thing.

And while Landrieu joined many other Republicans in calling several weeks ago to lift the ban on shallow-water drilling,
Landrieu said she’d keep the pressure on the administration and
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to lift and shorten all of the
restrictions on new drilling.

“We just need to keep the pressure on him to get the moratoria shortened,” she said.