Wow new states rights, when did that amendment pass?<>
Posted on 08/04/2008 9:35:11 AM PDT by Between the Lines
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Friday he’s leading a new, bipartisan “Gang of 10” senators who’ve drafted a comprehensive energy bill that would lift decades-old bans on offshore drilling and nuclear-waste reprocessing.
The New Energy Reform Act of 2008 is a bid to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans who spent July accusing each other of neglecting the impact of record gasoline prices on their constituents.
“There is no greater problem facing average Americans and small businesses today than high fuel costs and our nation’s dependency on foreign oil,” Graham said. “Our proposal is not perfect, but it is a bipartisan start on the road to a comprehensive energy strategy leading to independence from foreign oil.”
For Graham, a Seneca Republican running for re-election, the new initiative reprises his controversial role in the “Gang of 14” two years ago. Then, he and a baker’s dozen other senators from both parties reached a compromise on President Bush’s judicial nominations.
Many conservative activists have never forgiven Graham for moving to block a bid by some Republicans, who then controlled the Senate, to require only 51 votes to break Democratic filibusters of the Bush nominees instead of the traditional 60 votes.
Graham says the 2006 compromise enabled Bush to choose, and the Senate to confirm, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito, along with other conservative federal judges.
The draft energy package would partially lift the congressional ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, which has been limited since 1982 to the western two-thirds of the Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Under the new bill, such exploration would be limited in other coastal regions to areas at least 50 miles offshore, and state governments would have to approve it.
President Bush last month lifted the executive drilling ban his father imposed in 1990. Congress must end its moratorium in order for all coastal states to have the option of permitting offshore gas and oil exploration.
The new energy measure would also remove the prohibition President Gerald Ford placed on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in October 1976.
President Jimmy Carter, citing the threat of nuclear weapons proliferation, continued the ban in 1977, and no subsequent president has lifted it.
In exchange for allowing offshore drilling sought by Republicans, the “Gang of 10” package would promote alternative energy sources and repeal big oil companies’ tax breaks as Democrats want.
“It is irrational to be allocating around $1 billion per year in tax dollars to assist in production at a time when oil is $124 a barrel and companies are recording record profits,” Graham said.
Graham and U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, a Greenville Republican, had opposed oil drilling off the South Carolina coast, but they switched their stance in June as gasoline prices reached $4 a gallon. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a Springdale Republican, also changed his position to back oil exploration.
If American nuclear plants were allowed to reprocess and burn spent fuel again, the Savannah River Site would likely reap major contracts.
Rosen covers Washington for McClatchy newspapers in South Carolina.
“The new energy measure would also remove the prohibition President Gerald Ford placed on reprocessing spent nuclear fuel in October 1976.”
That is KEY! We only use about 5% of the fuel’s capacity before it needs to be reprocessed. So we have a lot of usable fuel in those spent fuel casks and spent fuel pools. Let’s do it!
While this does sound like a good thing, I automatically suspect anything that involves Lindsey and gangs.
You ain’t just a-woofin’. What is in the fine print that will screw conservatives THIS time???
IS this the American Energy Act? If not, Graham needs to shut up and join the House Republicans call for an up or down vote on The American Energy Act!
I agreeeeeeee
I hope you don’t mind my use of your comment. You have such wonderful way with words they must be repeated.
“While this does sound like a good thing, I automatically suspect anything that involves Lindsey and gangs.”
“While this does sound like a good thing, I automatically suspect anything that involves Lindsey and gangs.”
“While this does sound like a good thing, I automatically suspect anything that involves Lindsey and gangs.”
Ditto ditto ditto ditto
Did I mention I hate the little butt kisser?
I hate to be so cynical but I actually hope this does not pass yet due to the democrats. I’d like the new republican congress in 2009 to pass it, after beating the democrats like a drum with the issue from now until November.
It adds a tax by repealing tax incentives(read ‘windfall profit tax’) I don’t like. it.
The French and Japanese have been reprocessing fuel rods for years. They kept working on the technique/equipment, etc. after we shelved the effort at the end of 1992. Thanks to propaganda from the environmental movement, Chernobyl and no courage from the political leaders, no nuclear plants have been built in 30 years.
The Sierra Club and National Resources Defense Council are just as anti-U.S as those a$$hats in the Middle East.
IIRC it also mandates certain targets for alternative energies and as such while it helps some, (I could be wrong) I think it also screws us.
They mention DeMint, but don’t say if he’s part of the gang. I’ll have to look into that. If he isn’t in on it, I don’t trust it.
I automatically suspect anything that involves Lindsey and gangs.
And Mary Landrieu
AND COMBINE THAT WITH MAKING, BUYING, AND DRIVING FLEX FUEL VEHICLES!
Anne Korin, Co-Director for the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security spoke at a Young American Foundation, National Conservative Students Conference this morning. She spoke about the combo as the only way...NOT drilling only. She said it is a very real situation that we drill more, they drill less = same amount of oil.
I believe that we need to send the message that IT'S NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL (We're gettin' our own darn oil!!!)....AND....COMBINE THAT AS SHE POINTS OUT, WITH FLEX-FUEL VEHICLES, OR WE'VE LOST THE BATTLE.
We need vehicles which offer us choices, to keep the playing field "honest." (my words) Competition is the only option, and when you have basically a drug cartel in the oil industry, you cannot escape its hold, UNLESS YOU CREATE VEHICLES...WHICH THEY ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW FOR BRAZIL...THAT ARE FLEX-FUEL (use whatever is the cheapest commodity at the time) VEHICLES!!!!!
COME ON CONGRESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FYI:
Those in the gang of 10 are Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La; Saxby Chambliss; R-Ga, John Thune, R-S.D.; Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.; and Bob Corker, R-Tenn.
As posts to HotAir put it:
I’m supporting the American people’s need for decent transportation without creating a future crisis of a draconian nature. 85% is a ridiculous number, and the technology isn’t there yet. I love technology, I’d love to drive a hydrogen car fueled by my own solar cells, and I hope the day comes where I do, but dictating it won’t work. Dictating solutions tends to wipe out emerging ideas that might actually be superior. American inventors will provide the answers, and the market will sort it out.
and:
Now is not the time for compromise. The American people are ready to go full speed ahead with ALL forms of domestic energy. Compromise would probably keep us out of ANWAR when that is the place to start! Compromise would probably limit the number of nuclear plants and refineries. Would shale oil be part of a compromise plan? Doubtful. Compromise would also let Obama back in the game. He’s already talking compromise himself.
Wow new states rights, when did that amendment pass?<>
“I hate to be so cynical but I actually hope this does not pass yet due to the democrats. I’d like the new republican congress in 2009 to pass it, after beating the democrats like a drum with the issue from now until November.”
It is summer vacation time. Most of these hacks would rather squeeze a few weeks of downtime, before heading into the fall election cycle.
So to me, both parties are testing some trial baloons. The dems have ample time to change position on energy, enough for the campaigns.
The Republicans need to be careful about timing. I am not convinced they have the unity or organization, to beat the drum from now until election time.
Do you know the name of the Chairman of the GOP? Are you impressed by Pres. Bush’s party leadership?
If they “get it together” it will be great, but I am not optomistic.
This issue could certainly turn the election in favor of the GOP. John McCain should be going to petroleum university, every spare hour.
If I was McCain’s manager, I would very secretly educate him on energy, on oil, on nuclear, etc. Get him so much smarter than Obama that he could shine in debates.
Apparently McCain spends many weekends off the campaign trail, in Sedona. Hold energy university there, in the cradle of solar energy.
Can never trust anything w Sen Grahamnesty behind it. Sounds like another cop-out to the DNC
Be my guest!
If you like $4/gal, Thank Nikita Nancy. If you want $10, Vote No Oilbama.
Pray for W and Our Troops
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