Thirteen states have sued Joe Biden over his executive order banning the sale of new leases for oil drilling on federal lands.
Since taking office just two months ago, Biden has single-handedly raised gasoline prices by 50% through his cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline and his ban on new drilling on federal lands.
The suit is being headed by Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry.
The suit claims that Biden violated both the Outer Continental Shelf Act and the Mineral Leasing Act which both promoted energy independence of the United States.
Under President Trump, we became energy-independent for the first time. Both actions by Biden benefitted Russia and China while costing Americans a fortune at a time when no one can afford it.
Under Biden’s promise to eliminate fossil fuels, you can expect energy prices to soar.
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said:
“By executive fiat, Joe Biden and his administration have single-handedly driven the price of energy up — costing the American people where it hurts most, in their pocketbooks. Biden’s Executive Orders abandon middle-class jobs at a time when America needs them most and put our energy security in the hands of foreign countries, many of whom despise America’s greatness.”
“For decades, Congress has embraced responsible development of our natural resources as a means of achieving energy independence – a matter of national security. They have discarded vulnerable dependence on foreign oil, which is why the court should reject the Biden Ban.”
The thirteen states included in the lawsuit are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. I am surprised that New Mexico did not join the lawsuit as much of their state’s business is in the fossil fuel industry.
Days before he signed the executive order, Biden directed the Department of Interior to pause existing oil and natural gas leases on public lands and offshore waters. The agency is conducting a review of the current leases.
The announcement is the latest lawsuit filed by a state against the Biden administration. A coalition of 21 states sued Biden on March 17, arguing he overstepped his constitutional authority when he revoked the federal permit for the Keystone XL Pipeline on his first day in office.
A group of Republican attorneys general threatened further legal action against the Biden administration in a letter to Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week. The 21 attorneys general demanded clarity on Biden’s position regarding state tax policy.
