House Democrats unveil bill to end drilling ban

[Howzit]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080911/pl_nm/usa_energy_legislation_dc

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives unveiled legislation on Wednesday that, if passed, would significantly expand domestic oil production by permitting offshore drilling at least 50 miles from U.S. coasts.

The package gives all U.S. states the option to allow drilling between 50 and 100 miles off their shores. Areas further than 100 miles from the coast would be completely open oil exploration.

After vigorously opposing calls from Republicans to lift the moratorium on offshore drilling, Democratic leaders recently softened their position agreeing to allow votes on drilling as a part of larger energy bills.

Under the Democratic bill, national marine sanctuaries and monuments would remain off limits and the U.S. Defense Department would still be able to designate national defense areas off the coasts. Any oil exploration would have to protect the coastal environment


If you can't lick em join em?

[cboy4]

1. If the Dems give in to this, then they sure as hell better be

getting something equally significant in return as part of a compromise.

[Bob Dobbs]

2. Capitulation by Vichy Democrats.

Good way to lose the election, limp dicks.

Drill, baby, Drill.

[tom_paine]

12. I think they know the Bushies have already stolen it, so why NOT capitulate?

Kind of creepy, like how we "won" in 2006, yet still lost.

Totalitarianism, even newfangled Inverted Totalitarianism with all it's fakery and window-dressing, sucks.

Like the fictional Matrix, it's nice enough, so long as you don't ask any questions or try to peer behind the curtain.

For those that do, though...horror show.

[GliderGuider]

3. What did you expect? They'e politicians, fergodsake!

From "Political Will, Political Won't":

Politics, regardless of party or ideology, is part of the problem and can never be part of the solution. While it may be easier for the average person to live under the rule of a more humane parcel of rogues, at its heart politics is the primary guardian institution of modern civilization. The role of all politics is to manage power, and power is always managed for the benefit of the holders of power. It doesn't matter whether the power managers are Democrats, Republicans, Tories, Grits, Social Democrats, Communists or a military junta. They all fulfill the same role in service of the same beneficiaries.

Why is anyone surprised when politicians do their real job? They're just following their Buddha-nature, after all.

[aquart]

4. Disgusting.

[AndyA]

5. Once again, the Dems lay down so the GOP can f*ck them.

Spread 'em wide, Dems!

It's a disgrace.

[IDemo]

6. This one is truly a head scratcher

Or maybe a bangs head into brick wall-er

:banghead:

[kristopher]

7. Future legislation

Future legislation could be enacted to raise CAFE standards dramatically (require X percentage of vehicles sold to be 150 mpg, with standards for rest going to 50+ mpg in near term.

We can also mandate that any oil recovered MUST be sold and used domestically.

Between these two policies, the leases would become meaningless. Other approaches could do the same thing.

[Howzit]

8. Let them drill for oil, but don't let them use it?

That is like crying stop 2 minutes after penetration started.

[kristopher]

10. No, more like

No, it's more like give them permission to begin the process of drilling and then making the process and actual drilling not worth the effort.
In fact, if the Dems have any sense at all, they'll put in the "for domestic use only" clause right from the start. The same people who are shouting loudest to "drill now" are also the one's most likely to support such an economically suicidal requirement.

[tom_paine]

9. The Democratic Leadership is licking the Bushies, not joining them...

Though the results are the same if either was the case...

[Howzit]

11. Latest: House approves offshore drilling

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/offshore_drilling

WASHINGTON - The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees to energy development off its shore. Democratic leaders called it a step toward energy independence, but Republicans labeled it a "sham" because most of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil believed to lie below off-limits coastal waters are within 50 miles of land and will remain out of bounds.

The measure passed in a largely party-line vote of 236-189. It now goes to the Senate, where energy will be the topic later in the week. Thirteen Democrats bucked their leadership and voted against the measure. Even before the House vote, the White House said President Bush was prepared to veto the measure should it reach his desk. An administration statement said the bill would "stifle development" of offshore energy resources by essentially making permanent drilling bans within the 50-mile coastal buffer, while imposing new taxes on the largest oil companies.

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the bill "represents a new direction in energy policy" and a "bold step forward that will end our dependence on foreign oil" by using billions of dollars collected in taxes on large oil companies to promote alternative fuels and energy efficiency.

Republicans called the drilling measure a ruse to provide political cover to Democrats feeling pressure to support more drilling at a time of high gas prices. "How much new drilling do we get out of this bill? It's zero. Just zero," declared House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio. "It's a hoax on the American people. This is intended for one reason ... so the Democrats can say we voted on energy."

[tom_paine]

13. OK, so explain the reactions of the Bushies. Is this simply a case of their usual "negotiating"

strategy, which is to demand EVERYTHING and stick to it, knowing eventually the other side will wear down and yield concession, after which the Bushies can bemoan how far it failed while laughing in their sleeves?

If Fuhrer actually DOES veto it, does this not blow that idea out of the water?

Keep reading, Howzit! And thanks.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: