Typically, discretion isn\u2019t a virtue associated with government; yet under the Obama Administration it\u2019s being treated like a mortal sin.<\/p>\n
The latest example comes in the aftermath of the president\u2019s decision to impose a six-month moratorium on all deepwater (i.e. 500 feet or more below sea level) drilling.\u00a0 The stated reason is to ensure that no other oil rigs accidentally blow up and gush more black crude into American waters.<\/p>\n
But mandating stasis will do more than head-off a highly improbable second Gulf Oil Spill, says Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell.\u00a0 In papers supporting a lawsuit against the moratorium, Caldwell is calling for a \u201cbalanced approach\u201d response instead of the current policy that is \u201ccosting between $165 million and $330 million each month in lost wages for Louisiana jobs tied to the drilling,\u201d<\/a> according to the effected companies.<\/p>\n Caldwell argued that drilling can be safely resumed within 30 days if federal inspectors are permanently stationed on each rig. The inspectors would re-certify all blowout prevention equipment, enforce compliance with all drilling procedures, and ensure training of all rig personnel to industry standards, including any new safety recommendations made by the presidential commission.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter confirming the correctness and preparedness of each rig and well design, these deepwater rigs should be permitted to resume work, and the Department of Interior should resume issuing permits,\u201d Caldwell said in yesterday\u2019s brief. Such a \u201cbalanced approach\u201d would allow safe resumption of a vital portion of the state\u2019s economy \u201cwithout the necessity of shutting down an entire industry segment,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n