Fox News Channel "Your World" Interview - Transcript

Interview

MR. VARNEY: Democrats won't allow a vote on drilling as they head off on a five-week summer vacation. With us now, Democratic Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.

Congresswoman, it's a pleasure to have you with us.

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you, Stuart.

MR. VARNEY: I realize that you're opposed to most drilling. But I have to ask you, are there any circumstances in which you would say, okay, it's okay to drill in ANWR, for example?

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: Well, Stuart, let's talk about the greatest hoax that's being perpetrated right now. We've had votes on drilling. In the last two weeks, we've had two votes on drilling. One --

MR. VARNEY: But look, it's not --

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: No, let me just finish.

MR. VARNEY: Will you allow, would you vote for any drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf? Would you allow any drilling offshore California, offshore Florida? Any drilling in Alaska, in ANWR? I mean, those specific areas, would you allow it?

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: No, but let me finish my sentence.

MR. VARNEY: But would you allow it, Congresswoman?

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: I will -- of course, the Democrats will allow drilling. There are 68 million acres, half of which are off shore, Stuart, where --

MR. VARNEY: Let me draw attention to the Destin Dome, a huge deposit of crude oil and natural gas right there on the map. It's off the coast of Florida. We know it's there, we're not allowed to go and drill for it. The people of Florida want it, the government of Florida wants it. Will you ever, ever, can you vote in favor ever of allowing for drilling for oil and gas in that Destin Dome? Would you do it?

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: There are 68 million acres, Stuart, where we know there is oil. And in Alaska, actually in the National Petroleum Reserve, we know there's more oil there than there is in ANWR. And the very idea that the Republicans are pointing fingers at the Democrats when we have two oil men in the White House, they've been there for eight years. And oil prices, gas prices have tripled and are now over $4 a barrel (sic).

We have introduced 11 bills dealing with lowering gas prices. The Republicans have voted against them. We say we're not opposed to drilling. We're saying, do it! And in fact, if you don't do it, then we want to renegotiate those leases and give them to somebody else.

MR. VARNEY: So you will not -- you will not -- allow drilling for Destin Dome oil which we know it is there. Let me ask you another question.

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: No, let me --

MR. VARNEY: If it was $10 a gallon at the pump, would you then let Americans go and get the oil which they know exactly where it is?

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: Here is the other hoax.

MR. VARNEY: You won't answer the question, ma'am. I do apologize, I don't mean to be rude. But I really do want to press the issue. Is there any circumstance --

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: No, because that's not the -- but your question isn't the essence. The oil that would be drilled for today would not lower gas prices for another decade or more, perhaps two decades.

MR. VARNEY: That's not the opinion of the oil industry which we and I have spoken to. You could bring home Destin Dome oil on shore within 18 months. It would be in America in 18 months, and we would not be spending all that money to Middle Eastern governments.

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: Look, T. Boone Pickens, that oil man, has said, we're not going to drill our way out of this.

MR. VARNEY: He's also said he wants to drill everywhere and anywhere to get more energy for America. That's what he's said.

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: Look, we know that drilling is not the answer, even in the short term, but there are answers. We can deal with speculation. We can deal, as we have, with stopping filling up SPRO. We can deal with windfall profits that could go to actually giving relief to consumers. We could stop price gouging. There are many solutions that would actually lower the price of gasoline right now. We could use those windfall profits to put money back in the pockets of consumers as Senator Obama has suggested.

MR. VARNEY: We hear you. And we thank you very much, Representative Jan Schakowsky, Democrat, Illinois. Thanks for joining us, ma'am. We appreciate it. Take care.

REP. SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you, Stuart. Appreciate it.

END.

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