Posted on 08/04/2008 7:12:53 PM PDT by kristinn
Democratic leaders slammed Republicans on Monday for threatening to force a government shutdown this fall unless Congress lifts the ban on offshore oil drilling and for simultaneously demanding lawmakers return from the August recess to vote on more drilling.
SNIP
Some Republicans nevertheless say they are prepared to vote against a resolution to fund the federal government for fiscal 2009, which begins Oct. 1. If the resolution fails, many agencies and departments would run out of money and close their doors.
SNIP
The conflict stems from Republican demands that any energy plan include a provision to expand domestic oil drilling to areas currently off-limits, including a wildlife reserve in northern Alaska and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Democrats oppose the idea, saying oil companies already have millions of available drilling acres on land they're not using.
SNIP
Republicans have seized on the drilling issue, which the Democratic environmentalist base opposes, but which enjoys support of about two-thirds of voters, polls show.
SNIP
The congressional drilling moratorium was first enacted in 1982 and has been renewed every year since. It prohibits oil and gas leasing on most of the outer continental shelf - from three miles to 200 miles offshore - and expanded oil-shale development in the West.
An executive moratorium on offshore drilling was lifted last month by President Bush. That ban was put in place by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 and sustained by President Clinton.
The congressional ban is set to expire at the end of September, but Democratic leaders are expected to include a one-year extension in legislation that they will introduce next month to continue funding the government past Oct. 1.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Republicans have to realize they have nothing to lose. More attention has to be paid to educating the American people on the Demonrat incompetence and what it has meant to this nation’s well-being. They cannot let up. Demonrats have been deserving karma for a long time.
Democratic leaders slammed Republicans on Monday for threatening to force a government shutdown this fall unless Congress lifts the ban on offshore oil drilling and for simultaneously demanding lawmakers return from the August recess to vote on more drilling.It'll be good to have that oil online when President Obama starts his refined oil products for peace program with Iran.
Bumping all the threads about this!
Go GOP!
Petition signed with relish! Cantor rocks! Give that “B” Pelosi hell. Throw her out on her San-fran-damn-cisco @ss!
Bottom line Pelosi ,you garbage scow witch
HEY!!!! That’s an INSULT to WITCHES!!
Just “garbage scow” will be fine,thanks.....:)
Look at that. A lie in the first sentence! No beating around the bush with this libtard writer.
All the Republicans want is an up or down vote on the issue.
LOL now that is funny... thank you
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.