Graham Long, Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District of the United States Congress, has stated that George W. Bush's plan to drill for oil off the coast of Long Island, supported by Congressman Peter King (R-3rd CD), would be "a big mistake."

"Congressman King says that we should stop saying 'not in my backyard' and accept the possibility of drilling off the coast of our ocean beaches," said Mr. Long. "I say that oil derricks shouldn't be in anyone's backyard. Oil is not the future of energy in America, and I don't think we should fall victim to some drilling scheme that won't lower our gas prices at any time in the future, let alone right now.

"Once again our current politicians in Washington have offered us a 'solution' that is actually the cause of our energy crisis in the first place," Mr. Long continued, "just spun into different words. Why do they continually defend the status quo?" he asked, adding, "George W. Bush himself said that our nation is addicted to oil... So now his plan, endorsed by Congressman King, is to get us more addicted to oil?"

Mr. Long stated that Congressman King has endorsed President Bush's plan to open up our seashores to new oil drilling, derricks, tankers, and pipelines that will give the billion-dollar oil companies a new means of tapping a limited resource, and to profit even more at the expense of the already over-charged American public. This particularly hits home for Long Islanders, he said, who already pay among the highest prices for gasoline anywhere in the country.

"Drilling for oil as a plan to become energy independent, and relieve us from high gas prices is a complete scam," Mr. Long continued. "It seems the only people who believe that maintaining our oil dependency is the solution to our energy crisis are the same politicians in Washington that have done everything they can to support oil companies, hasten global warming and perpetuate an inefficient energy source in the first place. And we are the ones who pay for it at the pump," he added.

According to Congressman King, it is an undeniable truth that our country faces a severe energy crisis, and he believes that oil drilling is just one of many solutions at our country's disposal. "I do support drilling for oil off Long Island," said the congressman, "as I have always supported oil drilling in Alaska. It has to be an all-out effort. The United States has 86 billion barrels of oil in its outer continental shelf and we are the only country in the world not using its own natural resources. We are urging the Saudis to produce more oil; so should we."

Rep. King noted that there has not been a major oil spill during oil drilling in many years, "not even after Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico." Acknowledging that the world's supply of oil is "running out," he said he believes that at this time, additional U.S. oil would positively affect the oil futures market "within three to five years" and that he is confident it would begin to bring oil prices down almost immediately.

Both candidates recognize the need for alternative fuel sources. Mr. Long stated that the country should be "talking about ridding ourselves of oil as an energy source entirely by the year 2020 with the same kind of innovation, investment, and civic and industrial commitment that put an American on the moon in less than a decade." The challenge, he said, is in steering our economy in the direction of renewable energy, bio-fuels, natural gas and a more efficient use of energy sources. These initiatives, Mr. Long stated, can create jobs, prevent economic recession, and allow us to lead the world in the fight against global warming and the hazards it produces.

Congressman King iterated that oil is just a part of the energy crisis equation. He stated that he has consistently voted for stricter standards for automobiles and that our country needs to continue research into bio-fuels, solar and wind power.