Bush: Dem oil bill 'designed to fail'

CRAWFORD, Texas, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- U.S. President George W. Bush Saturday accused congressional Democrats of trying to block offshore oil drilling by pushing a bill "that is designed to fail."

In his weekly radio address, Bush said public pressure on Congress to take action on offshore oil drilling "has become overwhelming." He claimed that has forced Democratic congressional leaders into adopting a new strategy to prevent offshore drilling.

"Rather than attempting to block expanded drilling by preventing a vote, they are now attempting to block it by bringing up a bill that is designed to fail," he said.

Citing news reports, Bush said congressional leaders "may plan to hold a vote on a bill that would make us more dependent on foreign oil and would likely make energy costs go up, not down."

Calling the 110th Congress "one of the most unproductive on record," Bush called on Congress to approve offshore exploration on the Continental Shelf, expand access to oil shale and extend renewable power tax credits intended to promote development of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar.

"There is bipartisan support in Congress for all three of these measures," Bush said.