Posted on 07/17/2008 9:48:16 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON — House Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic effort to pressure energy companies into drilling for oil on lands they already leased from the federal government, calling the legislation a sham.
As the fight over gasoline prices reached the floors of both the House and Senate, the Democratic initiative to spur exploration in areas where drilling has been sanctioned fell short of the margin needed under rules used to bring the measure to the floor even though it drew majority support.
The vote was 244 to 173, more than 30 votes less than required. Rejecting the measure were 162 Republicans and 11 Democrats; 218 Democrats and 26 Republicans supported it. Democrats used rules requiring a two-thirds majority for approval to deny Republicans an opportunity to offer their own proposal to open restricted coastal areas to oil rigs.
Opponents said the legislation, which also called on the Interior Department to accelerate leasing in an area of Alaska specifically set aside for drilling, could diminish domestic exploration since it would bar oil companies from obtaining new leases if they were not actively exploring current holdings. Republicans said companies might be reluctant to bid on new sites they could then lose if they were seen as not moving fast enough.
The White House expressed a similar view in issuing a veto threat against the bill. “By blocking some firms from competing for new leases, this legislation would further increase gasoline prices that already exceed $4 per gallon and result in unintended consequences due to litigation,” the White House said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
News ping!
Do I see a spine on the backs of some House Goper’s?
BTTT
The Democrats want the oil companies to drill for oil where there is no oil - Republicans want to drill for oil where there is oil.
The Republicans had better not cower on this no matter what spin the Democrats put on it...a lot of times they start strong and then seem to “fatigue” to the fight - NO. Fight until we win on this - because we are right.
Demagogues think it’s fine for eviiilllll oil companies to drill — so long as they waste their money, time, resources drilling in places with little or no oil! Just can’t allow any drilling in places where we know there are major fields...... that’s Demagogue logic for you.
LOL!
Twenty six Republicans supported it? What a bunch of wimps!
BBC: Gore challenges US to ditch oil
******************************EXCERPT*******************
The Nobel laureate and former US vice president, Al Gore, has urged Americans to abandon electricity generated by fossil fuels within a decade.
Mr Gore compared the scale of the challenge to that of putting a man on the moon in the 1960s.
He said it did not make sense that the US was borrowing money from China to burn oil from the Middle East which then contributed to climate change.
Critics say weaning the US off fossil fuels is not possible within a decade.
Mr Gore, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his work on climate change, insists his goal is achievable and affordable.
Al Gore,...who invented the internet...has something to say....see above.
LOL
I love what The Great One had to say about this comment:
"How the hell did the rocket get up there? Wind driven propellors?"
Who were the 26? We need to target them and get their support.
Offer to hand back to the government 1 acre of old land for 1 acre of new land. If it's of no value it should be a no brainer and the oil companies would jump at it and the liberals get to keep this land pristine.
The environmentalists seem to think that drilling for oil is evil. To them, it represents despoiling or raping Mother Earth. That is why they are so irrational about it.
“Idle” lease claims based on lack of understanding: Cavaney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035201/posts
we need the names of the rinos who voted for this hoax.
All just a publicity stunt. Just a way for the Rats to say to the uninformed public that yes, we put up a bill to allow drilling and the republicans voted against it. All, pathetic political posturing from the party of pussies!!
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