Wow... That Was Quick !!! (Offshore Drilling Bill)

[WillyT]

From this: Congress Takes Up Offshore Drilling Bill

Tuesday December 5, 2006 12:31 PM

By H. JOSEF HEBERT

Associated Press Writer

<snip>

WASHINGTON (AP) - Congress is making a final push to open a large area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling, aware the Democratic majority next year is less likely to embrace new offshore energy development.

The House was to vote Tuesday on a Senate plan to open 8.3 million acres of the Gulf that is now off limits to drilling and also steer hundreds of millions of dollars of federal royalty payments to four Gulf coast states - a windfall for Louisiana, which would get about half the money.

The drilling bill is one of a string of measures House GOP leaders have readied for this week's ``lame-duck'' session under an expedited procedure that bars amendments, but also requires a two-thirds vote for approval.

Environmentalists have lined up against the bill and some Republicans are cool toward the measure, favoring a more expansive offshore energy development plan that passed the House in June that would have lifted drilling bans along both the East and West coasts. Senate leaders said the House bill had no chance in the Senate.

<snip>

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6259821,00.html

***************************************************************************************************

To this: House GOP pulls offshore drilling bill

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer

18 minutes ago

<snip>

WASHINGTON - House Republicans abruptly pulled from floor action Tuesday a bill to open a large area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling after it became clear the legislation lacked the two-thirds vote needed for passage.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate, was to have been one of the last major legislative achievements of this session of Congress. It would open 8.3 million acres of the Gulf that is now off limits to drilling and also steer hundreds of millions of dollars of federal royalty payments to four Gulf coast states — a windfall for Louisiana, which would get about half the money.

Republicans leaders gave no reason for the decision, but an aide to a lawmaker strongly supporting the legislation said that a number of Republicans withdrew their support at the last minute and some Democrats also had signaled they would not support the measure.

The aide, who requested anonymity because another attempt is expected on the bill, said GOP leaders planned to revive the bill in a way that only a majority vote is required or attach it to another bill. GOP leaders had put the measure on an expedited schedule, requiring two-thirds approval.

"We have precious little time left," said Sen. Mary Landrieu (news, bio, voting record), D-La., in a statement, adding she remained hopeful the legislation can be taken up later this week.

<snip>

Link: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061205/ap_on_go_co/congress_rdp

And, Dear Mary... exactly how do YOU mean there is "precious little time left"???

Didn't you get the memo, your professed party is in charge of congress now, and will have plenty of time to work out an environmentally sound energy policy for the Gulf, no???

:shrug:

[nam78_two]

1. Oh God-K&R/nt

[liberal N proud]

2. I had visions of this thing passing

Then the white sand beaches of Florida would be a thing of the past.

[shain from kane]

3. Isn't China cooperating with Cuba to begin drilling for oil in the

Gulf of Mexico? Who put our oil under their coral?

[madfloridian]

4. Bill Nelson will stand with Mary....he still wants to vote for it.

At least that is the impression this editorial gives....sounds like the Democrats may let the Florida drilling through anyway in the Senate. Maybe I am reading it wrong.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061205/NEWS/612050325/1036/EDIT


"Florida's two senators, Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Mel Martinez, came out in support of the Senate measure after working hard to obtain the 235-mile setback. Most of the state's leadership fell in behind them, and some environmental groups agreed that the best compromise possible had been reached. Other environmental groups would prefer that no new legislation be passed, although they said the Senate bill is preferable to the House version.

Then came Nov. 7. The Democrats gained enough seats to take control of both houses of Congress. Moreover, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Resources Committee and a proponent of all-out drilling for the Gulf of Mexico, was defeated. Now that the list of players has changed, some environmentalists are urging Florida's delegation to back off the Senate agreement, reasoning the threat to offshore drilling has subsided.

"It's going to show people's true colors," Mark Ferrulo, executive director of Environment Florida, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. "Now that the compromised will no longer be a necessity, we're going to see where these members really stand when it comes to protecting Florida's Gulf waters from drilling."

But neither Nelson nor Martinez are comfortable that doing nothing is a good alternative. "If nothing passes," said Martinez in a statement, "drilling could begin next year with no additional protections for Florida."

And Nelson's office pointed out Monday that the incoming chairman of the Senate Energy and National Resources Committee, doesn't seem interested in limiting oil drilling in the Gulf. On Friday, Congressional Quarterly reported that the incoming chairman, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., criticized the Senate bill "not because it allows new drilling, but because it protects too much territory off the Florida coast from future exploration."

Really really read that last paragraph about Bingaman. Why he is he the new chairman of Energy and National Resources if he is so willing to drill so close to Florida?

[madfloridian]

5. This was today's editorial....is the Senate really serious?

about trying to get this bill through again? I read the editorial again, and it sounds like some of the Democrats are deadly serious about it.

[madfloridian]

6. Bill Nelson, Landrieu, Bingaman, who else is eager..

to keep pushing this drilling off Florida?

They really are showing their true colors.

[WillyT]

7. Curious, Huh ??? - It's As If They Know That...

their electoral cover will be blown if they don't get this done NOW with Republicans in majority, Republican votes, and a Republican President.

How many of these DINOs are up in 2008 ???

:shrug:

[ellenfl]

9. unfortunately (fortunately?), nelson just got re-elected.

i would like to see jebbie's buddy (martinez r-fl) take a fall in '08.

i am so torn about bill nelson because he has served this state pretty well for many years but these last 6 years . . . well, i just don't know any more. maybe i was always wrong about him.

ellen fl

[ShaneGR]

15. Landrieu wants drilling off Lousiana, not Florida....

Reason being, a good chunk of the profits go to Louisiana and rebuilding their infrastructure.

[phantom power]

8. they aren't in charge yet. The 109th congress still presides this week.

[WillyT]

10. Ok, But... They Seem To Be Extra Keen To Get This Thing Trough...

BEFORE that are in charge!

Any thoughts on why they would want to do that?

:shrug:

[phantom power]

13. I assume that what's happening is...

the oil industry lobby is trying Really Really Hard to get this passed during the last week when the GOP controlls Congress. If they don't make it this week, they will have to try to get it passed with a Dem-controlled Congress next year.

There are Democrats under the thumb of the oil lobbies as well, although fewer of them. So, I imagine that some Dems may also be trying to pass the bill this week.

[WillyT]

14. I Agree, But...

Doesn't the fact that the Dems took back the congress and that there aren't enough Republican votes in the House for this bill, give these oily Dems a "Get Out From Under The Thumb Free" card???

Why the continued big push... or is it all for show?

:shrug:

[phantom power]

24. Good question. Perhaps the Dems haven't finished learning to fight back?

Or, maybe the Dems, like many other people, believe that we can't live without oil, and so we must do anything and everything to keep pumping it out of the ground?

[Jacobin]

11. I don't understand why democrats opposed to the oil war

in Iraq are okay with putting our gulf waters in Florida and California off limits to drilling.

They don't seem to mind that Louisiana has gotten butt fucked by the oil companies screwing up our wetlands without having to pay for it, but Lord, don't let an oil rig show up off Pensacola Beach...implicitly suggesting to me that they'd rather steal oil from Iraqis (while complaining about it).

Why not require them to drill responsibly to minimize risk and get our own instead of feeding Saudi terrorists billions and fucking up the lives of 26 million people in Iraq so that our beach views aren't sullied.

I don't understand the blatant hypocrisy on this issue, AT ALL

[WillyT]

12. Um... Because The Future Is About Moving Away From Fossil Fuels ???

And although I can't do much about the stupidity of the past, I can have some say in preventing the stupidity of the future.

Put down the nozzle, and step away from the fossil fuels.

As soon as we possibly can.

:shrug:

[WillyT]

16. Kick !!!

:kick:

[Jcrowley]

17. Ugh

K&R

They will push and push until the people push back.

[Hippo_Tron]

18. Offshore drilling revenue goes to rebuilding Louisiana

[Telly Savalas]

19. Offshore drilling revenue goes into the national treasury

and an amount equivalent to this revenue is allocated for rebuilding Lousiana.

These funds could be provided by alternative means, such as rolling back Bush's taxcuts for the wealthy or pissing away less money in Iraq.

[Hippo_Tron]

21. I agree 100%

But Louisiana needs money and we need it NOW. How long is it going to take to overturn the tax cuts or spend less in Iraq?

[WillyT]

20. Man... I Hope You Are Correct, And I Hope It Is Worth It, But...

there's gotta be a better and quicker way to help out Louisiana and the rest of the gulf coast without engaging in a massive environmental boondoggle that will mostly enrich the same damned oilmen that have screwed your state over for so many decades now.

:shrug:

PS. Leave the California coast out of it.

[and-justice-for-all]

22. ShrubCo is getting in what he can...

..as fast as he can. Come Janruary, he will not get a passing vote from DEMS for Toliet paper to wipe his sorry ass!

[rman]

23. Going out ever further, drilling ever deeper, sparing no cost,

to satisfy that thirst for oil. Indeed, there's "precious little time left".
But of course, there's no supply problem.

[mtnsnake]

25. This is also intended to fuck up Alaska's off-shore in an important

area where sea mammals congregate.

Fucking Republicans have no conscience what so ever.

[AnnInLa]

26. Being from Louisiana, and knowing that we

have been royally screwed by the gov't in other off-shore drilling deals, and knowing that LA really needs that money.....I am of two minds about this news. Doesn't matter what you say, I am still hoping our state gets some much needed money. So.

[RobofSWVA]

27. is there no way to have our cake(oil) and eat(use) it too?

Is there no way to create a clean drilling method? I would have thought by now we could develop eco friendly ways to mine/drill for valuable minerals and resources. Perhaps instead of trying to defeat large energy companies we should look for ways to force them to improve technology to the point where extraction no longer hurts our planet. This, of course, would be in addition to research devoted to alternative fuel. We need a true visionary to take the reins.