AG Ken Paxton sues Biden during final hours of presidency to stop ban on offshore drilling
WASHINGTON, DC - ARPIL 26: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks to reporters after the Supreme Court oral arguments in the Biden v. Texas case at the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, April 26, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Sarah Silb
AUSTIN - Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued the Biden Administration during its final hours to prevent President Joe Biden’s restriction of offshore drilling, saying it is in violation of federal law.
W&T Offshore, Inc, joined Attorney General Paxton in the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas Lufkin Division.
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Big picture view:
On January 6, President Biden tried to indefinitely extend the withdrawal of some offshore drilling sites under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
According to Paxton, the law does not permit presidents to unilaterally prevent the economic development of these areas in perpetuity without any limitation whatsoever. President Biden’s actions exceed his statutory authority and will make America less energy secure, Paxton states.
Paxton is asking the court to prevent the restrictions from taking effect.
This lawsuit represents the 106th lawsuit Attorney General Paxton has filed against the Biden Administration in opposition to its frequent violations of the Constitution and the rule of law. As of today, Attorney General Paxton has won more than three out of every four lawsuits filed against Biden.
What they're saying:
"In 2021, I became the first State Attorney General to sue Biden just three days into his failed administration. Now, I will be the last AG to sue Biden on his way out of Washington," said Attorney General Paxton. "The past four years saw the repeated, intentional effort by Biden and his deep state cronies to subvert our laws, destabilize our nation, and undermine our freedoms. I worked tirelessly to stop these attempts and won time and time again. Soon, when President Trump takes the oath of office, we can begin to undo the damage done."
"It is a great day in America. President Trump’s inauguration marks the beginning of a new era and the triumphant return to the foundational principles that make America great. Together, we will secure our borders, uphold the law, and restore the freedoms that Biden’s unlawful policies sought to undermine.
"Just this morning, I sued Biden for the last time, making it a total of 106 legal actions over the course of four years. Instead of empowering people to pursue their American dream, Biden consistently abused his power as he pushed a radical agenda that undermined our economic opportunity, national security, and religious liberty. Instead of defending this country, he unleashed a runaway bureaucracy that continuously sought to undermine the law and advance an agenda that would have destroyed our great nation if left unchecked."
"In November, the American people gave Trump an overwhelming mandate to reverse the damage done and build a brighter, freer future. Texas stands ready to work hand-in-hand with the new administration to protect the rights of every American, uphold the Constitution, and make America great again."
The Source: Information in this article is from the Texas Office of the Attorney General.