In a series of tweets, Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw (D) is questioning the Biden Administration’s pursuit of an alternative oil source in Venezuela. The news comes after reports have indicated that President Joe Biden (D) is seeking to ease economic sanctions against Venezuela in an effort to create less dependency on Russian oil. Crenshaw argues that energy independence is feasible, and it requires lawmakers to “stop pushing idiotic policies.”
The president’s move for the United States to become less independent from Russian oil has generated bipartisan disapproval, and many GOP lawmakers have instead argued that the country’s focus should be on energy independence.
To speak on the subject, Rep. Crenshaw took to social media, providing a series of tweets that discuss Biden and oil companies.
“Remember: Biden’s presidency began with shutting down an American pipeline (before he green-lit a Russian pipeline). Then he banned new oil and gas leases on federal lands,” write the Texas Republican, adding that the president “pressured banks to divest in oil and gas projects.”
Crenshaw then questions, “now he wants to blame the oil companies?”
Remember: Biden’s presidency began with shutting down an American pipeline (before he green-lit a Russian pipeline). Then he banned new oil and gas leases on federal lands. Then he pressured banks to divest in oil and gas projects.
And now he wants to blame the oil companies?
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) March 10, 2022
The Texas lawmaker expressed that the White House has provided “a really poor attempt at a political spin” in saying that “there are 9k unused drilling permits that are approved. Evil oil companies are refusing to drill with these permits because they want to profits from this crisis.”
In contrast, he explained that the process is much more complicated than just ‘unused drilling permits,” adding that it includes “leases, permits, rights of way, and other regulatory bureaucracy.”
The White House wants you to believe that a drilling permit is the only thing needed for new oil and gas projects. That’s not true at all.
It’s a puzzle of leases, permits, rights of way, and other regulatory bureaucracy. pic.twitter.com/A55jFmOghd
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) March 10, 2022
The comments came after President Biden took a trip to the Lone Star state, but Crenshaw called it a disappointing appearance, arguing that Biden did not “meet with energy producers to find out what’s needed to increase production, reduce prices, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.” However, Crenshaw did point out that the Biden Administration has made time to “meet with Venezuela and Iran.”
Joe Biden is in Texas today but won’t meet with energy producers to find out what’s needed to increase production, reduce prices, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Instead, this White House would rather meet with Venezuela and Iran.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) March 8, 2022
