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McCain now backs offshore drilling, was against

Republican changes postion yet again for votes

After years of being against offshore drilling, John McCain has changed his position and now proposes lifting the ban on offshore drilling as part of his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

After years of being against offshore drilling, John McCain has changed his position and now proposes lifting the ban on offshore drilling as part of his plan to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

"The stakes are high for our citizens and for our economy, and with gasoline running at more than four bucks a gallon, many do not have the luxury of waiting on the far-off plans of futurists and politicians," McCain will say Tuesday in Houston, Texas, according to excerpts of his speech released by his campaign.

"We have proven oil reserves of at least 21 billion barrels in the United States. But a broad federal moratorium stands in the way of energy exploration and production. And I believe it is time for the federal government to lift these restrictions and to put our own reserves to use."

McCain's plan, like President Bush's that was defeated, would let individual states decide whether to explore drilling possibilities.

During his last run for the presidency, in 1999, McCain supported the drilling moratorium, and he scolded the "special interests in Washington" that sought offshore drilling leases.

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