The President's plan involves drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf where his experts have suggested 18 billion barrels of oil may be available. President Bush said earlier today, "In the short run, the American economy will continue to rely largely on oil. And that means we need to increase supply, especially here at home. So my administration has repeatedly called on Congress to expand domestic oil production.

"Unfortunately Democrats on Capitol Hill have rejected virtually every proposal -- and now Americans are paying the price at the pump for this obstruction. Congress must face a hard reality: Unless Members are willing to accept gas prices at today's painful levels -- or even higher -- our nation must produce more oil. And we must start now. So this morning, I ask Democratic Congressional leaders to move forward with four steps to expand American oil and gasoline production."

Some Congressional Democrats disagree that they are solely responsible for high gas prices. In February 2008, Exxon Mobil earned more than $46.6 billion dollars of pure profit, beating its previously held record of the highest profits ever recorded. At that time, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York said, "Congratulations to Exxon Mobil and Chevron -- for reminding Americans why they cringe every time they pull into a gas station."

Senator John McCain, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, agreed with President Bush on the expansion of domestic oil drilling.

"As for offshore drilling, it's safe enough these days that not even Hurricanes Katrina and Rita could cause significant spillage from the battered rigs off the coasts of New Orleans and Houston," he said in the prepared text of the speech. "Yet, for reasons that become less convincing with every rise in the price of foreign oil, the federal government discourages offshore production."

One difference between the speeches is that President McCain's support is thrown to becoming independent of foreign oil permanently.

"The next president must be willing to break with the energy policies not just of the current administration, but the administrations that preceded it, and lead a great national campaign to achieve energy security for America. So, in the days ahead, I plan to return to the subject in a series of discussions to explain my reform agenda. And I will set forth a strategy to free America once and for all from our strategic dependence on foreign oil."

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was quick to issue a statement that said, "Americans are suffering under the Bush-Cheney-McCain policies that were written by Big Oil: $4 a gallon gasoline; $134 per barrel oil; increased reliance on foreign sources of energy and on hydrocarbons that contribute to climate change." She then added, "We look forward to having a President in the White House whose energy policy can no longer be described as 'drill and veto.'"