McClintock says required sale of SPR oil in energy bill a 'scandal'

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) on Thursday said he opposes language in the 2012 Energy and Water Appropriations Act that requires the sale of $500 million worth of oil in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to help fund other government spending.

Speaking on the House floor, McClintock said the inclusion of this language is a "scandal" that should be struck out of the bill, although he did not offer amendment language to the bill.

"There's a half a billion dollars going out of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, not to replenish the reserve but to fund additional spending in this budget," he said. "That is a scandal. It's time we put a stop to it."

McClintock said under current law, any money earned on the sale of SPR oil must be returned for the purpose of replenishing the reserve.

Under the bill under consideration this week, H.R. 2354, the secretary of Energy would be required to sell $500 million worth of SPR oil by March 1, 2012. The bill says the secretary "shall deposit any proceeds from such sales in the General Fund of the Treasury."

Report language accompanying the bill from the Appropriations Committee acknowledges that money raised from the sale would be used to "offset spending elsewhere in the Department of Energy's budget request." The report also says this change should not be seen as a precedent.

"The Committee supports the actions necessary to ensure continued structural integrity at storage sites, but is concerned about the use of revenues for other purposes," it said. "The Committee's acceptance of the proposal should not be viewed as a precedent or as support for future uses of SPR oil sales to mask Departmental spending."

The House considered several amendments to the spending bill Thursday, and is expected to hold a final round of votes on the bill Friday.