Posted on 08/13/2008 2:41:41 PM PDT by Delacon
Congressional Republicans are poised to shut down the government if they are not allowed a vote on new oil drilling legislation.
This comes even as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated she could budge on allowing a drilling vote, which so far she and her Senate counterpart have blocked from seeing daylight in Congress.
Current bans on the Outer Continental Shelf and oil shale drilling expire on the first day of the coming fiscal year: Oct. 1. Now, Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., is leading a group of GOP senators celebrating the day, which they have dubbed "American Energy Freedom Day."
"The overwhelming majority of Republican Senators have pledged to protect October 1 as American Energy Freedom Day so we can reduce dependence on foreign oil and lower the cost of gas at the pump," DeMint said, according to a release from his office.
"Many people aren’t aware that the bans on drilling must be renewed every year, and all we have to do is allow these prohibitions to expire on October 1. In just 50 days, Americans will have the freedom to pursue their own energy resources here at home. Our letter is very straightforward: we will actively oppose any effort to extend the bans on offshore drilling and oil shale," DeMint said.
This is setting the stage for a showdown in September with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and most other Demorats who oppose this drilling.
In response to DeMint, Reid spokesman Jim Manley said: "Isn't this the same day that Republicans would be endangering the delivery of Social Security checks because of their misguided attempts to promote energy policies that will do nothing to deal with the short term problems facing the country?"
Reid and Pelosi have avoided holding votes on drilling because of growing support among their own ranks...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
ping
Let’s see if this makes Pelosi blink - botox or not!
And what do Pelosi and Reid think would happen to them if they held social security checks?
Let’s see now — Nancy is running for re-election isn’t she. When does Reid get unseated? And do you think Daschle will hire him. He’s another one who thought he was untouchable.
The congressional ban on drilling has to be renewed each year, and the current ban expires in September. So if congressional Republicans can stand firm and break just enough conservative Democrats, they can block the renewal of the ban.
Contact DeMint and see where your senator stands.
We need to man the phones again folks!
Shut-down the gubbament and push for more energy? Where do I sign-up?
“I hope this does not backfire.”
Yeah, republicans got beat up pretty bad in the mid 90s over welfare reform when dems(Clinton) shut down the government. Everything is reversed though now. Sitting republican president and republicans in the minority in both houses. My worry is like the last time. The MSM will spin it in the dems favor.
“Shut-down the gubbament and push for more energy? Where do I sign-up?”
Shoot, any reason to shut down the gubmit is a good one IMHO.....They ARE the problem....
I can’t help get the feeling the RATS will attach an amendment providing, in some form, amnesty for illegal aliens.
Anybody remember the last time the Republicans were
going to make the Dems look bad by shutting down
the Govt?
Evil Republicans shut down the “peoples” government to line the pockets of Big Oil.
Shut it down until January firing all employees, not laying off, until January 21st!
Worked for the Gov. when it shut down ,all non-essential employees got 3 days paid leave,the rest of us lowlifes had to work.Sometimes it pays to be non-essential.
Close the gubmnt down for a month, no big deal.
I’d love it.
All those gubmnt employees with nothing to do but drink at home instead of drink at work.
The fact that Dim Dems can refer to this crisis as “a short term problem” is very revealing. They are absolutely clueless as to what a HUGE problem this has become. Every oil producing country (except maybe Canada) has long term, ongoing problems. You would THINK the problems in Georgia alone would be a wake up call, but Dems are just too stupid.
Now we are told there are personal monetary reasons why Nazi Nan may be denying a vote on additional drilling. She made $250,000 profit on T. Boone Pickens wind energy scheme.
Even this reporter's use of the term “doled out” when describing the convoluted process involved in acquiring government leases is idiotic. Again, the media (shame on you, FOX) by their use of denigrating rhetoric are, at least tacitly, placing blame on the oil companies. IT'S NOT THE OIL COMPANIES, STUPID, IT'S CONGRESS!
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