For the second time this week, Fox News’ White House Correspondent Peter Doocy sparred with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki regarding the White House’s refusal to take responsibility for the spike in gas prices.
Fueling the exchange is Psaki’s insistence that President Joe Biden’s policies have no bearing on spiraling inflation and increases in gas prices. The exchange comes as ING. reports inflation is at a “40 year high” and Investopedia notes that gas prices are at an “all-time high.”
The Biden administration blames America’s gloomy economic outlook on Russia, China, and Trump.
However, a November report in the Washington Examiner noted that leaders in the oil and gas industry claim “Biden administration policies have tied their hands, preventing them from boosting production …”
The allegations are clear: “The Biden administration is directly preventing them from drilling more through regulation,” according to the report.
On Wednesday, Doocy chided Psaki for attempting to deflect blame for spikes in gas pricing:
“Why did you guys decide to rebrand the rise in gas prices as the #PutinPriceHike?” asked Doocy.
Psaki replied but did not answer the question: “I mean, if you want to use that on Fox, I welcome that.”
Doocy then questioned Psaki about her Monday comment, inferring that oil industry leaders are responsible for America’s lack of oil as there are 9000 active permits allowing them to drill.
“[Regarding] producing energy here…[you said] ‘that oil and gas companies have 9,000 permits to drill now, they could be drilling now,’ would President Biden cut red tape to make that possible?”
Psaki responded by claiming there is no “red tape” to cut and nothing is stopping oil companies from immediately increasing oil production.
“First of all,” Psaki began, “nearly 60% of leased acres remain non-producing, that’s a lot, in the range of 20 million acres. So there are 9,000 unused, approved permits to drill in, that should not require us inviting them to do that, they should do that themselves.”
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Doocy interjected, “[But they] can’t get additional permits.”
Psaki responded with sarcasm: “What additional permits do they need? The leases are there, the permits are there. I don’t think they need an embroidered invitation to drill, they are oil companies.”
Psaki continued by implying oil industry leaders are not drilling because they are motivated by profits and desire to see the price of oil increase:
“What is happening here,” Psaki said, is that these “private sector companies… many of them are making record profits. We see that, that is all publicly available data. They have pressure to return cash to investors and their shareholders. What we are saying right now is, there is a war, we are asking them to go use the approved permits, use the unused space, and go get more supply out of the ground in our own country.”
Doocy sought clarification by seeking a simple yes or no response to a direct question. He asked:
“‘Quick yes or no” is a “restart of the Keystone XL construction completely off the table as long as Joe Biden is president?”
Psaki replied coyly, “Well, why don’t you tell me what that would help address?”
Doocy responded by reminding Psaki that previously, Biden said: “all options are on the table.”
Again, Psaki sidestepped the question by replying, “If we are trying to bring about more supply, that does not address any problem.”
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Doocy disagreed saying, “It’s supply from Canada, a friendly ally instead of Saudi Arabia.”
Incredibly, with Biden in the news recently for attempting to secure oil from Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, Psaki claimed:
“We are already getting that oil, Peter, the pipeline is just a delivery mechanism, it is not an oilfield, so it does not supply more supply into the system.”
Not convinced, Doocy asked if Biden would ever greenlight Keystone XL construction: “Is it on the table?”
Holding the party line Psaki replied, “There’s no plans for that and it would not address any of the problems we’re having currently.
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