Senate rejects GOP oil drilling plan

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: CNN.com

Washington (CNN) -- The Senate rejected a Republican measure Wednesday to expand offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. coastal waters, signaling a continued partisan stalemate over energy policy and, more specifically, how to respond to rising gas prices.

The bill was defeated in a 42-57 vote. Sixty votes were required for passage.

Among other things, the GOP bill would have required the Interior Department to complete a number of offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and off the coasts of Virginia and Alaska. It also would have extended lease terms by one year for Gulf contracts suspended by the drilling moratorium imposed by the Obama administration in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.

The GOP bill would have established a 30-day review period for drilling permit applications, and allowed for default approval if an application wasn't rejected within 60 days.



Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/05/18/senate-bill-to-expand-offshore-drilling-fails/?hpt=T2

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Good!

[DetlefK]

1. "Sixty votes were required for passage." Used to be 51.

[underpants]

2. Wouldn't have made a difference in gas prices anyway - not that you will hear that on TV

a. The US produces 7% of the world's oil - this would make no effect
b. the oil would have been used for plastics not oil
c. Supply and Demand tells you that OPEC would simply cut production
d. the oil companies use refineries as their control (see b.) so raw supply means nothing (see a.)

[Kolesar]

3. yes, yes, yes, and yes!

[Hulk]

4. Slow learners....

Don't the reich wing get it? We want to get OFF oil....not destroy more property so we can dig out a little more. The only ones who would benefit are the welfare recepients.....big oil companies.

[primavera]

5. + 1,000,000! n/t

[plumbob]

6. Well said!

Thank you.

[ladjf]

7. Good. nt

[Enrique]

8. Senate blocks GOP bill that would increase offshore drilling

Source: CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/id/43092862

WASHINGTON - The Senate blocked a move by Republicans to speed domestic offshore oil and natural gas drilling on Wednesday, a fresh sign of congressional gridlock on energy issues even as drivers endure gasoline prices near $4 a gallon.

Republicans only got 42 of the 60 votes needed to consider a bill, known as the Offshore Production and Safety Act, that would have directed the Interior Department to conduct previously scheduled offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico, Virginia, and Alaska.

The bill, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, also would have extended lease terms by one year in the Gulf which the Obama administration suspended last year after the BP oil spill.

It did not get approval from some Democrats in energy producing states who Republicans had hoped to get, such as Mary Landrieu from Louisiana.


(...)

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/43092862

[sinkingfeeling]

9. Not 'latest breaking' since it was reported yesterday when the vote happened.