McConnell: Obama working 'behind the scenes' to block domestic energy production

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday accused President Obama of doing "everything he can behind the scenes to block [energy] production" and "kill energy-related jobs."

“He publicly claims to support greater domestic production and the jobs that come with it, even as he seems to do everything he can behind the scenes to block production and to kill energy-related jobs here at home," accused McConnell from the Senate floor.

"Not only have gas prices skyrocketed, but the administration’s policies are also hindering the creation of thousands of good, private-sector jobs that so many Americans desperately need," McConnell added.

McConnell complained about the six-month moratorium on new deepwater drilling imposed by the administration last year, and the administration’s actions to block exploration on Alaska’s Outer Continental Shelf.

McConnell's speech came on Wednesday as oil prices surged after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) unexpectedly announced it had not reached a consensus to raise oil production.