Posted on 07/25/2006 8:31:51 AM PDT by thackney
With the U.S. Senate set to debate offshore drilling this week, Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida wants to make sure the upper house gets the last word.
The state's senior senator filed legislation Monday that would forbid the Senate from negotiating with the U.S. House on drilling for oil and natural gas -- a provision the Democrat said would ensure greater protections for the Florida's coastlines.
But the measure faces a dim prospect in Congress.
Last week, Pete Domenici of New Mexico, chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, unveiled a plan that would allow drilling in 8.3 million acres of the Gulf of Mexico but prohibit exploration at least 125 miles from most of Florida's western shoreline. Florida's other senator, Republican Mel Martinez, helped negotiate the buffer.
It's a far cry from the expansive House bill, which passed in June with broad support. That measure would allow drilling off the entire U.S. coastline but would give states a 50-mile buffer from rigs, which state legislatures could extend to 100 miles.
Nelson's amendment, if accepted, would prohibit the Senate from negotiating with the House on drilling and ask the lower body to approve the Domenici plan in its entirety if it passes the Senate.
Congressional powerbrokers have been skeptical of the no-compromise clause.
When Senate leaders announced they struck an offshore drilling deal earlier this month, Nelson said he would support the plan only if its backers agreed not to work with the House -- a condition not guaranteed by Domenici or Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
"Looks like the Senator done changed his position on offshore drillin'"
Someone once described the U.S. Senate as the place where ideas go to die. This illustrates the reason for the description.
If anyone wondered if Nelson believed in a Representative Republic before he filed this legislation, he's managed to remove all doubt that he doesn't.
Sen. Howell Heflin
From Political Wire.
"I see Senator Kennedy has changed his position on offshore drilling."
-- Former Sen. Howell Heflin (D-AL), after seeing a National Enquirer photo of Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) on top of a woman in a boat. The New York Times runs an obituary of Heflin, who died yesterday.
Do you mean this "dumb as a box of rocks" Bill Nelson you posted to me about? LOL
I don't understand what is wrong with Florida, that they can't get someone "better" than Katherine Harris. I have nothing personal against Harris, but she keeps shooting herself in the foot.
Yup, let's leave that oil for China and Cuba to get rich off of while our country's economy continues to have growth brought down by $3+ a gallon gas. Good idea Nelson you putz. Gawd, why couldn't the GOP get a better candidate then Harris to defeat this putz.
And then these same Dims. have the NERVE, the NERVE to blame high gas prices on the president. Gawd I want to knock their lying, hypocritical, deceiving teeth in when I read crap like this. Cuba will become a wealthy nation on oil while the US remains dependent on the Saudis and the Venezuelan mental case.
By the way, maybe Floridians ought to consider how many Florida jobs won't be created because Nelson the moron is standing in the way of offshore drilling that would create thousands of jobs there. And then after they think about that, check the price of gas at their local gas stations. Then put those two things together and wonder why you're going to vote to re-elect a complete idiot like Bill Nelson.
Didn't the Oriskany just get sunk out there? Among other things, the oil platforms could be sold as a boon to the area's fishing industry.
placemark.
I always thought that line was uttered by Sen. Alan Simpson.
When asked by a reporter how he enjoyed his first performance of the Washington Ballet at the Kennedy Center, Senator Simpson said "I think they need taller dancers."
Good one, Alan!
Once again, thank you John Adams for the bicameral legislature. This demonstrates the absolute need for one. Otherwise, we might all be under the grip of oligarchs like Senator Nelson.
I hardly think Cuba is going to pay much attention, much less China. So let me see Bill, just how close is it that either of those two can start their drilling operations. You can take your precious red tide, waveless, (gulf side) foreign infested, sea shell lacking, sun screen needing, effing beaches and stuff them right where the sun doesn't shine.
Instead of talking about how environmentally friendly and safe oil company operations are (US based) he has to open the door to outsiders without the restrictions placed on US companies. Bill is a moron IMHO, but then what the heck do I know, stuffed as I am in the American hinterland, away from the all knowing all seeing Washington beltway.
Not one more dime of FEMA $ for FL
Ditto for La, texas calif etc, buy insurance and get off the tit and also lets stop school taxes, parents should provide for there own/
Nelson is such a turd.....
That would be the one
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