The point of blaming Clinton for either ban is totaally without merit though.

There's also a third ban which is more relevant to this conversation. The proposed legislation in Congress would only remove the federal congressional ban. Almost every coastal state currently has thier own ban on offshore drilling and few to none of these will be lifted as most coastal states' populations are strongly opposed to it. For example no Gov. of FL has ever been elected without promising not to allow offshore drilling. The point is even if you guys get what you're asking for it still won't lead to anything substantial.