[SAJ]

Good luck. The Speaker controls **absolutely** which bills come to the floor, and in what order, and decides when a vote will be taken. That's a brutal parlay to beat, m'friend.

You watch. I think she'll attach the ban to the bill that funds the Dep't of Interior. All the 'Rats will vote for it on the grounds that ''we can't shut this critical dep't down'' ... and the other 13 (14?) budget bills that are required by law will languish for months (as they did for this fiscal year).

Now, if a malaria scare or something were to break out in the Capitol on 29 September, that might delay things long enough for Bush to issue the appropriate Executive Order.

You'll know Bush's true colours, btw, if he signs whatever budget bill contains the renewal of the OCS ban.

We shall see, as always.

[Red Steel]

Since Bush lifted the executive order for offshore drilling, I doubt he will sign any bill containing the renewing of the OCS ban.

And I’ve read that the Dems have OCS ban riders in bills unrelated to energy ready to go. I hope the Dems make a stink over it - a big loser.