Senator Barbara Boxer and other Senate Democrats want oil companies to use or lose their existing oil leases before opening up more of the U.S. coast to drilling. Eric Niiler reports from Capitol Hill.
To drill or not to drill, that is the question being asked by Congress members this week as they give long floor speeches at the Capitol. Boxer says Republicans are single-minded when it comes to solving the energy crisis.
Boxer: What's their answer. Drill, drill, drill, drill. And where to drill. The most pristine areas off our coasts because the oil companies see this as a opportunity to get their hands on more leases for their portfolio and increase their assets on their books.
The California coast is protected by federal law and presidential order. But many Republicans now say it's time to take another look at these long-standing rules.
From Capitol News Connection in Washington, I'm Eric Niiler, for KPBS News.
