White House Opposes Moves to End Crude Oil Exports Ban
The White House said on Tuesday that it continues to oppose legislation that would lift a longstanding ban on U.S. crude oil exports, and urged Republicans to focus on funding the government without attaching unrelated measures ahead of a looming deadline. But White House spokesman Josh Earnest stopped short of saying that President Barack Obama would veto a government funding bill that included the crude oil measure.
White House Does Not Back US House Bill to Repeal Oil Export Ban
The White House said on Tuesday it does not support a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to repeal the 40-year-old ban on exports of crude oil. "This is a policy decision that is made over at the Commerce Department, and for that reason, we wouldn't support legislation like the one that's been put forward by Republicans," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters at a briefing. "The administration…
Iran Deal Will Survive Despite Congress Setback - Democrats
Democrats said on Friday that they would have enough votes to ensure that the U.S.-led international nuclear deal with Iran survives review by Congress, despite influential Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer saying he would vote against it. A spokesman for Senator Dick Durbin, who counts Democratic votes as the Senate's minority whip and who supports the deal, said Democrats were still confident they could rebuff Republican attempts to sink the agreement in a showdown next month.
White House: No Change in Crude Oil Exports Regulations
The White House said on Tuesday there has been no change in the U.S. ban on crude oil exports, responding to a question about whether an impending change might be behind price moves in oil markets. "There has been no change in regulations regarding crude oil exports," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, noting the Commerce Department was in charge of export regulations. "I'm not going to speculate about any sort of policy change that may or may not be contemplated at this point," Earnest said.
Obama Advisers to Recommend Veto of House Keystone Bill
President Barack Obama's advisers will recommend he veto a House bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline if the legislation reaches his desk, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday. Republican senators started the new U.S. Congress on Tuesday with legislation to approve TransCanada Corp's pipeline from Canada to the United States and White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama would not sign it.
White House: Oil Price Drop Helps US Economy
U.S. officials monitoring the recent drop in oil prices believe the dip so far has been beneficial for the U.S. economy, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Monday. U.S. average gasoline prices have fallen below $2 per gallon in much of the country. That has boosted U.S. car sales and other areas in recent months. (Reporting by Emily Stephenson; Editing by Bill Trott)
Obama: Keystone Pipeline Would Have Little Impact on Gas Prices
The White House said on Monday that U.S. President Barack Obama believes the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would have little impact on U.S. gas prices but a spokesman would not say whether he would veto Republican legislation related to the project. Republicans want Obama to approve the pipeline, which would carry tar sands oil from Canada. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama would wait to see any legislation they propose before determining whether to veto it.
Obama Plans to Sign Venezuela Sanctions Legislation
President Barack Obama plans to sign legislation that would impose sanctions on Venezuelan government officials found to have violated protesters' rights during demonstrations earlier this year, the White House said on Thursday. The measure would deny visas and freeze assets of officials involved in what the law considers a crackdown on political opponents during three months of street protests in Venezuela over crime and the economy that left 43 dead.
Obama Does Not Support Senate Keystone Bill
A White House official said on Tuesday that President Barack Obama does not support legislation in the U.S. Senate that would authorize the Keystone XL pipeline to transport oil from Canada into the United States. White House spokesman Josh Earnest did not specify whether Obama would veto the legislation if Congress passed it. The Senate planned to vote on the bill later on Tuesday, but it was not clear whether pipeline supporters had enough votes to approve it.
Keystone Pipeline Bill Panned by White House
The White House takes a "dim view" of any proposal for Congressional approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, and wants a State Department review to continue, a spokesman said on Thursday. "The administration has taken a dim view of these kinds of legislative proposals in the past...it's fair to say that our dim view of these kinds of proposals has not changed," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, where President Barack Obama is on a state visit.
US Rejects Iran Bid to Link Islamic State Fight to Nuclear Concessions
The United States on Monday rejected a proposal floated by Iranian officials in which Tehran would cooperate in the fight against Islamic State forces in exchange for flexibility on its nuclear program. Senior Iranian officials told Reuters that Iran is ready to work with the United States and its allies to stop Islamic State militants but would like more flexibility on Iran's uranium enrichment program in exchange. Asked to respond, White House spokesman Josh Earnest rejected the Iranian proposal.
Oil Edges up as Traders Worry about Supply from Iraq
Crude oil climbed on Thursday, rebounding from the lowest prices in months as the security situation in northern Iraq deteriorated, reviving concerns about supply disruptions. Brent and U.S. crude both rallied in late-morning trade, after reports that U.S. President Barack Obama was considering airstrikes on Islamic militants in OPEC's No. 2 oil producer. The New York Times report on possible airstrikes cited unnamed administration officials.
US see Credible Prospect of Nuclear deal with Iran
The White House said on Friday there was a "credible prospect for a comprehensive deal" with Iran over its nuclear program that made it necessary to extend talks with Western powers another four months. "This extension will allow us to continue the negotiations while ensuring that the progress of Iran's nuclear program remains halted during the negotiations," White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement.
White House: No Change to US Policy on Crude Oil Exports
The White House said on Wednesday there had been no change to U.S. policy on exports of crude oil. White House spokesman Josh Earnest made the comments after reports on Tuesday that U.S. officials have told energy companies they may export a variety of ultra-light oil if it has been minimally refined, an apparent marginal loosening of a decades-old ban on selling U.S. crude abroad. Earnest suggested the reports had been misleading.
White House Rejects Raising Gasoline Tax for Highway Fund
The White House on Monday rejected a proposal that would hike the gasoline tax in order to prevent the federal Highway Trust Fund from running out of money in August. "That's something that we've said a couple of times that we wouldn't support," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters at a briefing. Republican Senator Bob Corker and Democrat Chris Murphy last week suggested raising the tax 6…
