Congressional Democrats have blocked every effort to capture oil from KNOWN reserves in the United States.  They've stopped drilling from occuring in Alaska, Colorado and along all the entire coastline of the United States.  In each of these locales, known oil reserves exist.

The Democrats reason for stopping the drilling?  They are concerned about the environmental impact of drilling (ie. oil spills).  However, there has never been a significant oil spill that resulted from drilling or piping of oil (the method that would be used to move oil from the rig to the shore).  The only oil spills have occurred from shipping accidents.   But why let facts get in the way!

I love to point out that we have new oil wells being drilled here in Central Illinois.  These wells are located
        1. Within 1/4 mile of a junior college
        2. Within 1 mile of a High School
        3. Within 1 mile of a Junior High School
        4. Within 1 mile of a Grade School
        5. Within 1/4 mile of a food processing plant
        6. Within 1/4 mile of TWO major interstates

And yet, our own Senators (Durbin & Obama) see no problem with these new Illinois oil wells (or their environmental dangers).  

But they both voted no to drilling in Alaska.  They see it as too risky for the Alaskan wildlife to open up 5/1,000ths of 1% of ANWR (Alaskan National Wildlife Reserve) for drilling.  But the same is not true for the school kids they represent in Illinois.  Pretty pathetic......