(CNN) - A Gulf Coast official is pleading with President Barack Obama to scrap the moratorium on new oil drilling and exploration as the investigation of the massive oil spill continues, saying the economic impact to her Louisiana parish would be too much to bear.
Charlotte Randolph, president of LaFourche Parish, said she spoke to Obama in person during his visit to the oil-stricken region Friday.
"I expressed to the president that we are dying because of the oil spill, but if he allows this suspension to happen it will kill us," she told reporters Saturday, noting that her parish has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.
"First I'm hearing from fisherman who are dying because of the oil spill," she said. "Now I'm hearing from the oil and gas industry and all of those associated services that they will be put out of business."
Obama's tour of the oil damage along the Gulf Coast came a day after he announced steps to limit new oil drilling and exploration during the oil spill.
The president said he is "fully engaged" and ultimately responsible for what he called a catastrophe.
The new steps, announced Thursday, were in response to a report on the Gulf spill by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that Obama ordered last month. Salazar briefed Obama and senior advisers on the report Wednesday night.
Obama said the government would seek aggressive new operating standards and requirements for offshore oil companies. For now, he said, the government was suspending planned oil exploration of two locations off the coast of Alaska, canceling pending lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and a proposed lease sale off Virginia, and halting for six months the issuance of new permits for deep-water wells.
Obama called the steps part of a broader government response to prevent a similar catastrophe from happening again.
"We'll continue to do whatever is necessary to protect and restore the Gulf coast," Obama said.
From CNN Politics
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I thought the OIl money people would prevail.. Just cesspool the oil into the Gulf huh?... Well there needs to be some safety machimes put in place... first... this thing of drill baby spill is .....NO good..
Why do we need oil? Because we are told we need oil to survive? Who are the people that tell us to believe that? And when are we ever going to see if it is true?
You all could keep going on believing what you are told, but consider the source and then try to think for yourself for a change.
So Charlotte Randolph's position is shrimping, fishing and the oysters are finished anyway so screw it – let's go back to drill baby drill.
Is she kidding or stupid?
Sorry about your luck Charlotte.
One of the lowest unemployment rate in the country? Now you can join the rest of the country that has 10% unemployment.
It is absolutely stupid to issue more permits for offshore drilling until it can be done safely.
Sounds like LaFourche parish needs a leader who isn't so confused.
If the parish has one of the 'lowest unemployment' rates in the country, what do they have to worry about?!
Retrain for other jobs - like the rest of the country. Move - like the rest of the country.
Tuff times call for tuff measures lady.
That nincompoop is like a Wall Street Banker. "Give us our high-paying jobs and revenues and when there's a spill, let the taxes of the entire country clean up the mess".
It's getting old – bailing out FL, LA, and CA year after year after year. Maybe folks in those states should pay more in local taxes to save enough for their OWN CLEAN-UP.
Hush, Hush, sweet Charlotte! The "we're dying,but will soon be dead" just doesn't make for a good argument dear.
Obama is already handing out waivers to this "moratorium" on off shore drilling. There are people calling in to radio talk shows in Texas that are still on the rigs and have paperwork that states they can still drill signed by the big man himself.
Note there is no difference between Bush and Obama other than the Bush administration was more transparent that the Obama administration has ever been.
Miss Randolph must be a very simple minded person. She should know that there MUST be a change in the energy mix in America. The first is conserving energy and not to use it so frivolously. Then there is the need for new, energy efficient products, and then there is the development of new alternative energy sources. And here it should not be the motto “Drill, baby, drill!”!! Of cause, that needs work and creative thinking and also the will to change. If not even the disaster in the Gulf can make people start to think in new directions, what has to happen before they change their selfish ways? It is a shame!
Okay, so the President is to blame for this oil spill now they want him to stop the moratorium on oil drilling. It just shows you how disengenious these people are. Got to love these misguided people who want to heap blame on the President no matter what he does.
And this is the mentality of all republicans – we dont care how much damage is done as long as it puts a buck in our pocket. This woman is a rotten, stupid human being, an absolute waste of space.
Seems like a foolish comment for Charlotte to make considering the fact that the leak has not even been contained yet and investigation has not really started. If we take another chance drilling again right now, the consequences of another incident would then have a greater impact on her town. Is she saying Drill baby Spill baby... Drill??.
Charlotte Randolph should be riding the backs of BP executives to pay for all those who will lose business due to this massive oil spill, not the federal government. Our President has been put through the ringer regarding his efforts to right this country financially and as soon as a man made error or damaging act of nature occurs, all negative talk of big government spending becomes a non issue. Which way is the wind blowing today?
Now I've heard everything. The worst contamination of the environment in history and parish official pleads for federal government not to stop new deep water drilling! There are currently 591 deep water drilling rigs operating in the Gulf and stopping a few more from starting in the next 6 months isn't going to kill the oil and gas industry. Clearly the parish woman is suffering from stress. Marlene in Mich
Right on Mr President. Given the BP disaster in the gulf a moratorium is the least we should do. If we're going to allow drilling, let's make sure the oil companies do not continue to sacrifice safety on the altar of greed.
Sorry, Charlotte, being from LA I can appreciate the economic impact, but President Obama has to keep an eye on the BIG picture, not just what is happening in one parish in LA.
If this makes it up the East Coast million more will be in the same boat your now in, it is the responsibility of the President to consider that in making his decisions.
BP has already shown that they do NOT have functioning machinery to prevent these blow out, nor do they know how to stop them.
I assume no other big oil company has the answer either or they would have shared it.
The President is being more than prudent when he says no more deep sea drilling until you oil companies can prove you can drastically reduce the chances of this ever happening again.
Now, the dick and shrub had not let the oil industry write the government policy on deep sea drilling, MAYBE the technology would have been in place.
Think about that during the election to re-elect Jindal, a republican, he has the responsibility for helping to prevent this disaster but, he was too busy marching in lockstep with the "axle of evil" when they were in office.
This is playing right into Obama's plan.He is determined to destroy this country and to remake it as a socialist utopia.
the man with the sleak tongue...just talking and talking and no real action.......................................................................................................!
There are 3400 rigs in the Gulf and they have companies supplying them going out of business? I understand the fishermen, shrimpers, and oystermen being in "deep hurt" now since they make their year in 4 months but those rigs aren't going anywhere. If the companies can't come up with a way to stop a deep water leak, they should NEVER be allowed to drill deep. That is the entire coast of the Gulf at risk and it may involve Texas and the eastern FL coast and Carolinas. Sorry, but it is uyp to the companies to now prove that they can handle any problem, not up to the government to put the entire area at risk. That is Bush II thinking!
Charlotte articulates the difficulty so very well. Her parish is impacted either way. This is a lose lose situation for her.The thing I am impressed with is that she doesn't walk around howling like some of these people. Thank you for a civil discussion.
... like the miners ... it is back to "business as usual" ... even when there is one disaster following another ...
This is a thoughtful "halt" on new development: It is not a "forever" decision ... but Big Oil (who still get federal subsidies" wants to continue down the same path ... Wait and watch for awhile: Find out what the problem was and then solve it before going merrily on your way!
If Obamists over the last 40 years had not shut down nuclear power development we would not be going through this. And if the Obamists did not stop drilling in ANWAR this would not have happened. Well blow outs are plugged on land within minutes.
This disaster is the fault of the Obamists and all of their minion going back over the last half century. Blocking reasonable technology at every turn.
PLEASE! Get a life and get a clue! NO MORE DRILLING! Find other means of employment, like many others have had to do during the recession. And let's continue to end our reliance on oil! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! And Ms. Sarah Palin, you can drill baby drill on my you know what.