Friday, October 11, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Zucker; 504-457-8141

Cassidy’s Government Shutdown, Day 11: Oil & Gas Permits Now Stalled As VA Makes Alarming Announcement Affecting Up To 320,000 Louisiana Veterans
Times-Picayune: “Oil And Gas Permits Stalled By Government Shutdown”

Cassidy’s Shutdown Will Soon Force Delay In Veterans’ “Benefits Payments, Including Disability Compensation, GI Bill Living Stipends”

New Orleans, Louisiana – As voter approval for the Republican Party reaches record lows, Bill Cassidy is apparently willing to risk another drilling moratorium that could devastate Louisiana in order to continue his indefinite government shutdown.

The Times-Picayune reports today that the government shutdown is now stalling permits for our vital domestic energy sector, which could lead to ripple effects for countless Louisiana businesses:

“According to a report released by Senate Democrats:

  • Interior Department has stopped processing drilling permits and leasing both onshore and offshore.
  • Inspections and enforcement of safety standards will continue, but are limited to oversight ‘associated with protection of human life and property.’
  • Work on a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program has temporarily stopped.
  • New renewable energy projects are also being held up.”

Meanwhile the VA has now furloughed nearly 10,000 employees, and warned “that a government shutdown ending in the last two weeks of October could result in delays in Nov. 1 benefits payments, including disability compensation, GI Bill living stipends and dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors.”

With public pressure mounting for Bill Cassidy to end his “reckless revolutionary tactics” and “derangement on health care,” and support a “clean continuing resolution” to get the government back up and running, the time has come for him to start listening to voters, do what’s right and end his government shutdown.

“Bill Cassidy’s decision to shut down the government in order to block implementing the same health care reforms he tried to pass at the state level only six years ago was a shameful political calculation that is continuing to have devastating consequences for Louisiana families, said Campaign for Louisiana Communications Director Andrew Zucker. “Bill Cassidy’s flat refusal to support a clean funding bill that ends his government shutdown has already stalled permits for our vital domestic energy sector and will soon force delays in benefits payments, disability compensation and GI Bill stipends for as many as 320,000 veterans in Louisiana. As Bill Cassidy’s reckless actions threaten to delay benefits for up to 320,000 veterans across Louisiana and potentially force another drilling moratorium that would devastate our economy, the time has come for him to start listening to voters, do what’s right and end his government shutdown.”

BACKGROUND

2007: Cassidy Proposed Louisiana “Create a Statewide Health Insurance Exchange” During State Senate Campaign. During his campaign for the State Senate, Cassidy proposed that Louisiana “create a statewide Health Insurance Exchange to lower insurance premiums, decrease administrative costs and allow flexibility in which benefits workers choose.” [Cassidy for State Senate, Website Archive, 2007]

Five Times, Cassidy Voted For Plans That Would Shutdown Government. [HJ Res 59, Vote #478, 9/20/13; CNN, 9/20/13; CNN, 9/29/13Vote #498, 9/29/13; Vote 502, 9/30/13; Vote 504, 9/30/13; Vote 505, 10/1/13]

Three Times, Cassidy Blocked Clean Vote to Re-Open the Government. [Vote #512, 10/2/13; TPM, 10/2/13Vote #515, 10/3/13; Vote #517, 10/3/13]

Cassidy Signed A Letter Asking GOP House Leadership Not To Support Any Spending Bill Unless The Affordable Care Act Is Defunded. “U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy joined more than one-third of U.S. House Republicans in urging the leadership to threaten to force a government shutdown unless Obamacare is defunded… The letter that Cassidy signed onto includes 80 of the House’s 233 Republicans and asks the GOP House leadership not to support any spending bill — including a needed continuing resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown after Sept. 30 — unless the Affordable Care Act health care law is defunded.” [The Advocate8/25/13]

In 2009, Louisiana Had 17,398 Active Military Personnel And 6,647 Civilian Personnel. [Census, 9/30/11]

Cassidy’s Government Shutdown Could Delay Veterans’ Benefits: Services critical to our veterans, ranging from health and welfare to finance and travel, could be curtailed. “During the 1995-96 shutdowns, more than 400,000 veterans saw their disability benefits and pension claims delayed, while educational benefits were delayed for 170,000 veterans.” [CRS, 4/23/13; Army Times, 2/3/11; Committee on Appropriations, 4/6/11]

According To The Most Recent Estimates, 319,349 Veterans Live In Louisiana. [VA, 9/30/12]

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