GOP protests 50-miller buffer in Democrats’ offshore drilling proposal

[DogPoundPup]

Source: Kansas City Star

WASHINGTON | House Republican lawmakers attacked a Democratic offshore drilling plan Friday for including a 50-mile coastal buffer.

The Republicans said the Democrats’ plan would leave about 18 billion barrels of oil off-limits to energy companies.

A Democratic drilling proposal expected to be taken up by the House next week would allow energy development access to waters from 50 to 100 miles from shore along almost all of the country’s coastlines as long as a state agreed to drilling off its shore.

Waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast and also a nationwide 50-mile coastal buffer would remain out of bounds to energy companies.

House Republican leader John Boehner called the proposal a “hoax on the American people.”

Boehner argued that nearly 90 percent of the oil believed to be in the restricted offshore waters still would not be available for tapping.

House Republicans have called for lifting the offshore drilling bans everywhere with no protected buffer.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/794518.html

[Democat]

1. Let's see if Democrats have a spine or if they cave in

Democrats need to go on the offensive and tell the public how Republicans want to destroy the environment for future generations so they can put money in the pockets of the oil companies.

Democrats need to go on the offensive and stop playing defense.

[DogPoundPup]

2. I'm not an oil drilling einstein, but didn't Cheney at one time

in talking about drilling in the Artic, or maybe it was in Alaska, that the technology for dilling was so finite and they could 'slant drill' to far, far distant areas that wouldn't upset nature? Am I worng on this?

[movonne]

3. Well Ike should tell us something about off shore drilling...

[spag68]

4. offshore drilling

We don't need no stinking offshore drilling, nor any other kind of drilling. What we need is responsible conservation of energy, and a major push to renewable power. Get it straight, drilling for more oil is tantamount to destroying the earth. Our children deserve better.

[yardwork]

5. Just as Ike prepares to tear up the entire Gulf coast - ironic.