Zimmer Q&A on oil drilling

Republican Senate candidate Dick Zimmer made a public statement against offshore drilling last month after presumptive presidential nominee John McCain switched his position to support drilling.

Here's a transcript of a brief interview today about his reaction to President Bush repealing an executive order that barred oil drilling in much of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Q: What's your reaction to the president's announcement?
Zimmer: "Gas is a huge issue in New Jersey and Frank Lautenberg has failed to anything significant to alleviate the supply problem or the demand problem during his 24 years in the Senate. I think we need a senator who can support more focused and intensive efforts in this regard.

Q: But you oppose offshore drilling and the president's saying it's the solution to high gas prices. Where does that leave you?
Zimmer: All I'm talking about is New Jersey. If the citizens of Florida want to have drilling along their coast, that's OK with me. I oppose drilling off the New Jersey shore and anywhere close to New Jersey that might endanger the New Jersey Shore. But there are plenty of other places offshore and oil shale deposits in the Rocky Moutains and undeveloped reserves in Alaska outside ANWR [Arctic National Wildlife Refuge] and a lot of other places can be explored and developed in an environmentally responsible way. And this is in addition to more serious efforts for developing alternative fuels and efficiency and conservation.

Q: Do you worry about running as a Republican when the president puts this issue on the front burner?
Zimmer: The combination of ignorance on the part of some and a desire to attack Republicans through guilt by association could be a problem, but my position is clear. And it's been clear since I was a member of Congress and introduced my own legislation prohibiting leasing for oil and gas exploration off the Jersey Shore. Unless my position is misinterpreted by the press or my opponent, I'm confident the voters will understand where I stand and see this as one more case where I'm acting in the interests of New Jersey.
"I'm concerned about our coast and environment and the economic impact it has here. The states of Alabama, Louisiana and Texas don't mind the drilling at all. And I'm unaware of anybody, including Frank Lautenberg and Jon Corzine, who wants to stop drilling there."