Posted on 08/16/2008 8:48:04 AM PDT by Delacon
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will grant the Republicans' their big wish this campaign season — a vote on offshore oil and gas drilling — but only if the GOP accepts a few of her own demands.
Pelosi's decision to relent on the drilling issue, laid out with new clarity in Saturday’s Democratic radio address, illustrates the political pressure Democrats are feeling this campaign season. But the legislative menu Pelosi envisions includes a number of offerings that Republicans have considered unpalatable, a clear indication she will force the GOP to give up a lot in exchange for more domestic oil and gas exploration.
Her priorities include a repeal of royalty relief for offshore drillers and an end to other tax credits for the biggest oil companies, as well as so-called use it or lose it legislation forcing energy companies to relinquish un-used leases.
In the radio address, Pelosi said the Democrats' plan "will consider opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling, with appropriate safeguards, and without taxpayer subsidies for Big Oil."
As excerpts from Pelosi's address spread among lawmakers and their staffs Friday night, House Republican Conference spokesman Brian Schubert was encouraging GOP press secretaries and communications directors to “have your bosses issue statements pointing out that Speaker Pelosi’s energy plan is not an all-of-the-above answer to our energy crisis, nor will it take all of the necessary steps — overwhelmingly supported by the American people.”
And before Pelosi’s address even aired, House Republican had posted a “fact-checking” article on the House Republican Conference website.
Most of the items Pelosi outlined on Saturday have been considered in the past two years: requiring President Bush to release oil from the 700-million-barrel Strategic Petroleum Reserve, creating new safeguards to prevent "excessive speculation" in the commodities markets, forcing energy companies to use more renewable technologies and reducing mass transit costs for commuters.
Many of the items on her legislative wish list failed earlier this summer because Democrats brought the measures to the floor under rules reserved for noncontroversial legislation. Those rules block the minority from offering alternatives but also require a higher threshold for passage.
"Suspension of the rules is not the way to consider energy issues," said California Rep. David Dreier, the ranking Republican on the House Rules Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, in a conference call on Friday, didn't shoot down Pelosi's plan to move a measure that includes more drilling. Instead, he applauded the bipartisan "Gang of 10" for offering a compromise package in the Senate that would allow Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia to opt out of a federal ban on offshore oil and gas drilling, calling it a "step in the right direction."
The Nevada Democrat, who has organized an energy summit in Las Vegas next week, repeatedly suggested that any package should include an extension of tax credits to boost investment in renewable sources of energy — a priority Reid and Pelosi share that remains stuck in the Senate. "Let's get these long-term tax credits in place," Reid said.
A spokesman for the Senate majority leader said the extended tax breaks, which have come within one vote of being considered, are not mutually exclusive with Pelosi's broader package.
"The ball is in the Republicans' court," Reid spokesman Jim Manley said. "They've blocked every attempt to move responsible incentives for renewable energy. The question now is whether cooler heads have prevailed."
Josh Holmes, a spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said, “It’s amazing that after months of congressional debate about high gas prices Democrats are still more committed to blaming others for their inaction than they are actually doing something to reduce the price of gas."
Pelosi’s proposal comes as House Republicans finished the second full week of protests on the House floor. Indiana Rep. Mike Pence, one of the original ringleaders of the protest, said Republicans would continue to hold the floor until Pelosi brings the House back into session.
Although Pelosi laid out the circumstances Saturday under which she might allow a vote on offshore drilling, she repeatedly derided GOP calls for it.
"America faces a choice: a continuation of the Bush-Cheney-McCain approach that perpetuates the failed policies that have produced soaring prices," Pelosi said, "or a comprehensive, bipartisan strategy that develops new and traditional sources of energy."
Her counterpart, Republican Leader John A. Boehner of Ohio, shot back: "While the speaker now claims to embrace a comprehensive energy plan that includes more conservation, more innovation, and more American energy production, the Democrats’ utter inaction on this issue trumps their newfound, hollow support for the very reforms Republicans have been promoting all year long."
Earlier this week, McConnell flatly rejected any drilling measure that includes countervailing provisions that would raise taxes — an indirect slight to the "Gang of 10" plan and a preemptive shot across the bow at measures such as the proposed repeal of billions of dollars in tax credits for big oil companies.
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Nancy ‘let them eat cake’ Pelosi.
Close but no cigar Nancy. Let’s try this again. The people and their Representatives want a simple up-or-down vote. Get it through your Botox-addled brain. Next on the agenda is fast tracking and streamlining of the process for granting leases and drilling permits.
What a POS. I detest these wealthy Liberals.
Someone get a photo shop of NP’s head on the body of Marie Antoinette. Although Rousseau (the French philosopher) actually said it, no one would know what Rousseau looks like.
Nancy Pelosi is a Trecherous Gorgon Hag.
It will take a gallon of lysol to clean off that Gavel when She is gone.
Thank goodness for Mitch McConnell. I’m so glad he’s there. The people of Kentucky have extraordinarily good sense and good taste. Thank you, Kentuckians/Kentuckyites.
Keep up the pressure! This bitch has to allow a straight vote...yes or no!
Keep up the pressure! This bitch has to allow a straight vote...yes or no!
Keep up the pressure. They screwed with us over judges back when they were the minority, now it’s time to return the favor.
Blessed, for she is the ONE!
Could someone please let me know if when this puke says without subsidies does this really mean without extraordinary taxes? I guess my question is just how is this industry subsidized?
Pubbies, do not cave in on this issue. The Dems are desparate, they know it’s a losing issue for them. Don’t compromise! Stick to your Guns!
Has anyone informed ms plastic face about the dangerous precipice the world is teetering on at the moment?
This is not the time to deplete our emergency fuel reserves with all the sabre rattling from Russia, Iran and while still in the heat of the WOT.
Makes one wonder even more what deals she has under the table with her 'friends' that she has met with in the mid-east...
Pelusi’s politburo - I’ll give you what you want; but in a condition where you won’t want it.
Yes, I’d like to understand this too. I have a liberal friend who claims the oil inudstry is ‘subsidized’, and that can’t be true.
NO COMPROMISES. They were pressured into this and behaved like spoiled school children by turning off the lights and mikes and going home. Maybe the Republicans that stayed were being a little melodramatic, but were left with no options. Kudos to them.
Let us haggle over the other contested aspects with oil, coal, hydro, nuclear, solar and alternative energy in separate legislation afterwards next up if that's what the majority of American people want unless something unforeseen crops up relating to national security. On that, depending on how they behave, I might be willing to make concessions, depending on what they would be. It's not as if I think or imagine I have much say in it, just my opinion.
Cake “ain’t” good enough for her. Politico can’t even write a straignt story on this one. up or down only!
ferv888
This woman needs to go. We can’t afford her.
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