Posted on 07/11/2008 6:31:35 AM PDT by thackney
U.S. House Democrats are positioning themselves to battle Republicans on the issue of increased domestic drilling, and may vote as early as next week on an expanded package aimed at boosting oil production in Alaska.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., on Thursday announced a new energy package that would include measures to speed
the production and delivery of oil from federal land in Alaska that is currently home to limited drilling. The measure would also encourage the construction of a pipeline to deliver oil from Alaska to the 48 states in the continental U.S.
"Democrats support increasing the domestic production of petroleum and other energy resources," Hoyer said. "Some people have missed it."
Republicans have repeatedly accused Democrats of failing to increase supplies. The GOP is pushing for increased drilling off the coast and in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now, House Democrats are suggesting alternatives, and will seek to speed up production in the National Petroleum Reserve, an area in Alaska already approved for drilling but where so far much of the land hasn't been leased.
"This administration has been dragging its feet on leasing those areas," Hoyer said.
The expanded energy bill comes as Republicans prepare for a new attack on Democratic energy policies. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, plans to lead a delegation to Alaska next week to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to "learn about the abundance of American energy held hostage below the tundra by the Democrats," according to a press release. He will also go to Colorado to one of the nation's research labs to learn about new renewable-energy technologies.
With gasoline prices at a record-high $4.11 a gallon on average across the nation last week, U.S. consumers are growing increasingly...
(Excerpt) Read more at rigzone.com ...
I would argue it is perhaps the least environmentally sensitive area on the planet. What sparse wild life that might wonder there would probably thrive on the addition of some shelter.
‘Gang’ of House members to push for drilling
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/gang-of-house-members-to-push-for-drilling-2008-07-10.html
The Democrats in the group, led by Rep. Neal Abercrombie (D-Hawaii), will be bucking Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who earlier Thursday called efforts to open up new areas to drilling “a hoax.”
Peterson and Abercrombie are already co-sponsors of a bill that would remove restrictions on offshore natural gas drilling. The royalty money would go to the states, the federal treasury, and to renewable energy and environmental programs. The bill has 170 co-sponsors, and Abercrombie spokesman Dave Helfert said it would be part of the group’s effort.
They announced a new package of legislation Thursday that would push for more drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and require the oil to be sold in the United States. It would also push for completion of Alaskan oil and gas pipelines.
Must be getting a few phone calls.
The expanded energy bill comes as Republicans prepare for a new attack on Democratic energy policies. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, plans to lead a delegation to Alaska next week to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to "learn about the abundance of American energy held hostage below the tundra by the Democrats," according to a press release. He will also go to Colorado to one of the nation's research labs to learn about new renewable-energy technologies.
This is going to get results.
I agree that the Coastal Plain of ANWR, the only place considered for exploration, is this way.
I saw the headline.. now looking for Scrappleface...
Yeah I am sure they're getting phone calls from their nut job enviro constituents but also see the poll numbers that say they're on the losing side of this argument. That's why they come out with this mumbo jumbo so as to give the appearance of doing something while not actually doing anything, which is the mark of any good Democrat.
This is an issue where McCain can identify a distinct difference between him and Obama, in an area that the public can identify with. I cannot for the life of me understand while McCain isn’t hammering away on this on a daily basis. The Democrats are beginning to fracture a little on this subject. Now is the time to take advantage of that.
Once you read the “plan” you know it isn’t Scrappleface but typical Democrat bs.
NPRA, not ANWR
Pelosi and her 9% approval better get off the dime!....
Make someone happy - slap a democrat congresscreature today.
Thought we already had one of those.
Democrats love taxes. There was a report here at FR yesterday that fuel conservation has caused the Fed Gas highway maintenance Taxes to decline. Because of the Dems love of taxes, I see this sudden interest in what appears to be limited drilling as motivation to replace those declining tax revenues.
Whatever the end result with Dems in control will probably be half a$$ed anyway.
It goes to Valdez.
I’m not sure why they claim we need a pipeline through Canada when the ships from Valdez serve the US West Coast.
Just the mere idea of Dems pushing for any kind of drilling (outside of our wallets) makes me look for Scrappleface...
they are off the dime they are short cents.
Union Phone Calls.....IIRC, they were angry about jobs.
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