Kailey Supports Ending Oil Export Ban

Laramie County Commissioner Ron Kailey says a proposal in congress to end a federal ban on exporting U.S. crude oil would be welcome news.

A U.S. Senate committee has already approved the legislation, and it's expected to be debated by the full Senate sometime this month.

Kailey says he ''absolutely" supports lifting the ban, even if it leads to higher gasoline prices (supporters of the proposal claim that wouldn't happen). Kailey says if it would generate money for Laramie County and create local jobs, he wouldn't mind paying the higher prices at the pump.

Wyoming's oil industry has been in a decline over recent months, with layoffs and relatively little new exploration due to low oil prices. Kailey says of exporting oil, "It's a good product, let's keep pushing it."

He says ending the export ban would be good both for Laramie County and the nation as a whole. Kailey is the lone Democrat on the commission.