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California Officials Reject Call for Offshore Drilling

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger disagrees with calls by President Bush and Republican presidential candidate John McCain to lift a ban on new oil drilling in coastal waters. And opponents sa

California Officials Reject Call for Offshore Drilling

(Photo: Offshore drilling rig . U.S. Dept. of the Interior )

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger disagrees with calls by President Bush and Republican presidential candidate John McCain to lift a ban on new oil drilling in coastal waters. And opponents say even if allowed the oil wouldn't lower pump prices. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

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A federal moratorium on offshore drilling has been in place for 27 years.

Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear says the governor continues to support McCain's presidential bid despite their disagreement over offshore oil drilling.

California Senator Dianne Feinstein says drilling could allow unreliable oil rigs to be as close as three miles to California's beaches.

Bill Scher is with the Campaign for America's Future .

Using information from the Department of Energy , Scher says lifting the ban on coastal drilling to lower gas prices will save Americans only pennies at the pump.

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Scher: Oil doesn't even come on line for several years once you open up an area for drilling and people are demanding some relief right now. And to pretend that this is going to be relief right now is just not the case.

Scher says that any saving from offshore drilling wouldn't affect pump prices for almost two decades. 

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.