South Dakota Congresswoman Kristi Noem says she is co-sponsoring three bills that she says will expand offshore energy production, and reduce American dependence on foreign oil.   The bills would end the Obama administration's moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and require the re-opening of sales on oil leases in the Gulf and off the coast of Virginia.  Noem says the bill would relieve the pressure on South Dakota families struggling with high gasoline prices.  But South Dakota Democratic Party Chairman Ben Nesselhuf says Noem is supporting Republican policies that threaten farmers and the ethanol industry in South Dakota.  Nesselhuf says Noem voted to pass the 2011 Continuing Budget Resolution which contains measures that could be harmful to one of the state's most innovative industries.

Al Van Zee