Vitter calls on Obama to replace deepwater rig shutdown with immediate safety inspections

During this current recession, Louisiana’s unemployment rates are 6.2%. The federal government needs to be focused on policies that will create jobs. This moratorium is estimated to eliminate 3,000 to 4,000 Louisiana jobs in the short term. It could eliminate up to 10,000 jobs and possibly 20,000 jobs throughout the course of the year. This moratorium also obstructs Louisiana’s ability to collect revenue from offshore activity, which is used for coastal restoration to protect the state from hurricanes.

Our workforce and economy have been significantly impacted from the ongoing oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico. This deepwater moratorium could potentially be devastating for Louisiana. The likely impact of this moratorium is long term job destruction as these jobs leave the Gulf region permanently and move to other regions of the world.

Please consider my proposal to replace the moratorium with immediate rig safety inspections.

Sincerely,

David Vitter
U.S. Senator