Today during the White House Press Briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney attempted to defend the Obama Administration’s dismal energy record when asked about the President’s Jobs Council report that recommends increased energy production on federal lands as a way to create new American jobs:

“The fact of the matter is, on oil and gas production, we have higher oil production in this country in 2010 than we've had since 2003. This President is committed to an all-of-the-above approach in our energy development, which means increasing production here at home, a focus on natural gas and its importance for our energy future, as well as investments in clean energy.”

Despite Carney’s rhetoric, the facts show that the Obama Administration’s actions are actually causing a decrease in American energy production:

• Oil and natural gas production on federal lands is down by over 40% compared to ten years ago. Carney does not explain that the vast majority of increased production is occurring on private lands in states such as North Dakota, not on federal lands.

• Under the Obama Administration, 2010 had the LOWEST number of onshore leases issued since 1984.

• The Administration held only one offshore lease sale in 2011. Conducted on December 14^th, the Administration narrowly avoided making 2011 the first year since 1953 without an offshore lease sale.

If President Obama is truly committed to an all-of-the-above energy approach:

• Why is he proposing an offshore drilling plan that keeps the majority of our offshore energy resources under lock-and-key?

• Why did his Administration just impose a 20-year ban on uranium mining on one million acres of federal land in Arizona?

• Why is he refusing to make a decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline?

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