There’s some good news out there for those seeking relief at the gas pump, although it’s not a total win yet.

Citing the high prices Americans are paying for gasoline, President George W. Bush Monday lifted an executive order put in place by his father in 1990 restricting offshore oil drilling.

While the announcement is refreshing to hear, it’s not the end of the story.

Bush’s move takes some of the pressure off his shoulders and tosses it squarely on the collective back of Congress, who now must look at possibly repealing a federal law banning offshore drilling.  Such a move would help to bring more of a supply to the ever-growing demand for local oil. Many believe this would end our reliance on other countries for oil, but others think that more drilling would only damage the environment further. They also believe we should find alternative fuel means.

Another caveat to the situation is that exploring more locations will not have an immediate impact on gas prices here. Exploration can take years, which means we may not see any help for a long time to come.

Both current presidential candidates – Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain and Democrat U.S. Sen. Barack Obama – have expressed their opinions on the matter. McCain supports the expansion of drilling, while Obama is against such an expansion.

Bush’s move may play out short-term to be nothing but feel-good legislation. Many want a solution now, not years down the road. The president’s action does put more pressure on Congress to not look like the bad guy (depending on who you ask) and to open up drilling possibilities.

With billions of barrels worth of untapped oil in area across the country and in the Gulf of Mexico and a rising need for fuel, action is needed in one way or another.