The Washington Examiner interviewed Manatt's June DeHart, a partner in the firm's Federal Government Affairs and Public Policy practice, for an article on how President Obama's agreement to lift sanctions on Iran's oil sector has fueled a new debate to end the United States' 40-year-old ban on crude oil exports.
The Washington Examiner reports that more Republicans have been warming up to the idea of ending the ban. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, plans to mark up her bill to end the ban and expand offshore drilling before the Senate adjourns. However, opponents of ending the ban say the Iran argument is bogus, as is the idea that exports would lower gasoline prices. Detractors also argue that what Iran does has no bearing on U.S. oil companies and that those making a connection between the two are being politically opportunistic.
"That to me is not the real issue. It's a sound bite," said DeHart. "Sen. Murkowski knows the Iran deal is a flash point for many members, so she wants to link them and create a fairness argument."
Read the article here.