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RICHMOND -- Never has the political climate in Virginia so favored offshore drilling.
Most Virginia leaders -- regardless of their political party -- have expressed interest in joining Alaska, Texas, Louisiana and other states in setting up offshore platforms to drill for oil and natural gas.
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell and fellow elected Republicans strongly back the proposal, as do most members of the state's congressional delegation, including both U.S. senators, who are Democrats.
The General Assembly passed a pair of bills during its annual session that show the divided legislature's support for drilling -- one that backs exploration, development and production 50 miles off the coast, and another that directs 70 percent of any future drilling royalties to state road improvements.
Virginia leaders express interest in offshore drilling. By Anita Kumar, Washington Post Staff Writer. Wednesday, March 17, 2010; B01
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"It's a dirty and dangerous business," said Athan Manuel, the Sierra Club's offshore drilling expert. "It's not where we should be going as a nation."
But in recent years, as public opinion polls have shown that many Americans favor offshore drilling, Republicans have pushed to open more of the country's coastline as a way to reduce energy prices and create jobs. In 2008, former Maryland lieutenant governor Michael Steele, now chairman of the Republican National Committee, popularized the phrase "Drill, baby, drill!" -- which became a rallying cry for the GOP's desire to drill offshore.
Some Democrats have agreed that drilling needs to be part of a broad energy plan. In January's State of the Union Address, President Obama spoke of making "tough decisions" about opening new offshore areas for development.
"I think this needs to be looked at. We need to find out what's out there," said U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.).
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