SOUTHERN ARIZONA (SGT NEWS) - With gas prices at an all time high, President Bush said on Wednesday that the United States needs to take a more active role in increasing oil supply at home by using our own available resources and blamed Democrats in Congress for blocking previous oil exploration measures, even though Bush’s father helped to implement current oil drilling restrictions.

“In the short run, the American economy will continue to rely largely on oil. And that means we need to increase supply, especially here at home,” he said.

“Unfortunately, Democrats on Capitol Hill have rejected virtually every proposal -- and now Americans are paying the price at the pump for this obstruction.”

Bush then detailed a four-point plan to address the energy problem, which includes drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf, along with exploiting the energy potential of oil shale, a rock that can release precious recoverable energy when processed.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama opposes lifting the ban on domestic oil exploration, arguing it is not a solution to the energy crisis. Majority Leader Harry Reid said that the government cannot drill its way out of this problem and likens Bush and McCain’s recent focus on oil drilling to a “cynical campaign ploy”.

Off shore oil drilling by the United States is prohibited under restrictions implemented by Congress over the past several decades, including an executive order signed by George H. W. Bush, President Bush’s father.