8/3/08

Pelosi called proposals to allow more offshore drilling a deceptive "decoy" rather than a solution and indicated she would bar a vote on any bill that included it. "I'm not giving the gavel away to a tactic that supports the oil (companies), big oil at the cost and the expense of the consumer," she said on ABC's This Week.

Why don't they continue their do-nothing streak and simply let the ban expire?

Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL), Chairman of the House Republican Conference, issued the following statement after House Democrats no-energy energy bill passed by a vote of 236-189:

Tonight, House Democrats refused to answer the American peoples call for an all-of-the-above energy strategy, instead choosing political expedience ahead of the needs of hard-working American families.

From word one, the Democrat no-energy energy bill embodies the rhetoric-first, solutions-last brand of leadership that has made this Democratic Congress the most unpopular in our nations history. By failing to provide states with the opportunity to share in the revenues generated by offshore drilling, the bill gives governors and state legislatures no incentive whatsoever to opt-in. This is what prompted one Senate Democrat to declare the bill dead on arrival.

The Democrat no-energy energy bill doesnt even come close to delivering the all of the above energy solution the American people are demanding. Not only does this legislation permanently lock up much of our vast deep ocean resources, it does absolutely nothing to promote clean-coal technologies and emission-free nuclear. This sham creates excessive hurdles in developing our nearly two trillion barrels of oil shale in the Mountain West states and discourages the expansion of our refining capacity. Whats worse, the bill raises taxes and mandates an unrealistic, job-killing, one-size-fits-all electricity standard that will lead to a spike in prices for consumers.

And when Democrats had an opportunity to vote for the truly bipartisan Abercrombie-Peterson energy bill that contains meaningful steps to increase the supply of American-made energy, they voted it down. Their decision to vote down this bipartisan bill is proof positive that Democrats are not interested in real solutions for the American people, only political cover in an election year.

House Republicans will not be deterred in our efforts to advance meaningful energy legislation that gives the American people more access to all forms of our vast resources and bridges the gap in moving toward alternative and renewable energy forms without raising taxes. We will continue to demand an up-or-down vote on the American Energy Act, the only bill that delivers an all of the above solution.--

Some facts about the bill:

1. The measure would allow drilling in waters 50 miles from shore almost everywhere from New England to Washington state as long as a state agrees to go along with energy development off its coast. Beyond 100 miles, no state approval would be required. The drilling ban would remain in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Each year for the past 26 years, Congress has passed drilling bans on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts because of environmental concerns and pressure from some coastal states worried that drilling might hurt the tourist business.

2. Unlike bills offered by House Republicans and others being considered in the Senate, the House-passed legislation would not share royalties from energy production with the adjacent states. Boehner said without royalty sharing, states probably would not opt for drilling off their beaches. Right, Alaska has royalty sharing with its citizens, that's why Gov Palin was able to send out those checks for thousands of dollars. Why should the rest of America not get the same deal? Because Pelosi knows that many states would happily accept if they receive some of the profits! By denying the states and citizens any share of the profits, it ensures that few if any states will take the deal, and Dems can still claim "well, we tried, but the states refused..."

3. Republicans also cited Interior Department estimates that 88 percent of the 18 billion barrels of oil believed to be in waters now under drilling bans would remain off-limits because they are within the 50-mile protective coastal buffer. So only 12% of the oil would be opened, and it would be the least accessible oil. The farther you are from shore, the deeper the sea floor and the more expensive it is to build the rigs, making it less likely the oil companies will go for it, and more expensive if they do!

The Democratic bill also would:

.Provide tax credits for wind and solar energy industries, the development of cellulose ethanol and other biofuels.

(Ethanol subsidies will only increase the price of food as more corn is taken away from human consumption and animal feed in order to create ethanol. We already know this is a disaster for 3rd world countries that rely on cheap corn.)

.Require utilities nationwide to generate 15 percent of their electricity from solar, wind or other alternative energy source.

(This is a big deal... many of these alternatives cost vastly more than typical methods of energy generation, often 2x to 12x as much! And that increased cost will be passed on to consumers.)

Releases 70 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and provides for a subsequent replenishment with a LESS desirable grade of oil.

(The grade of oil that want to replenish the reserve has more sludge and much of it is unusable)

Authorizes $1.7 billion taxpayer dollars to subsidize public transportation ridership already at record levels.

Directs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop loan products and flexible underwriting guidelines to facilitate a secondary market for energy-efficient and location-efficient mortgages on housing for low and moderate income familiesand for second and junior mortgages made for the purposes of energy efficiency or renewable energy improvements.

(Here we go again)

Mandates gas stations owned by larger oil and gas companies to install at least one alternative fuel pump (natural gas, E-85, biodiesel, or hydrogen) by 2018.

(Mandates? More government, folks)

Includes the Charlie Rangel transportation earmark for New York by terminating the remaining portions of the New York Liberty Zone tax incentives program (implemented to encourage business investment in lower Manhattan).

(Don't you all love Charlie and his pet projects?)

Includes several tax increasesprimarily the special carve-out of large (and foreign-government-owned) oil and gas producers from the domestic manufacturing tax deduction, the freeze of this tax deduction for all other oil and gas companies, and a restriction of how foreign oil and gas extraction income is determined for purposes of the foreign income tax credit. The bill also includes a PAYGO gimmick that will force energy companies to remit $3 billion in estimated taxes in FY2013 sooner than they otherwise would have to. .

(I know people think the oil companies with their record profits are the bad guys. But where do you think they get the money to drill? From their profits! I prefer a profitable company that doesn't need a bail out, but maybe that's just me)

What isnt in the bill:

Litigation reform, so that American energy exploration and development, including that authorized by this legislation, is not further halted by environmentalist lawsuits.

Allowing energy exploration and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).

Expedited petroleum refinery permitting.

Expedited nuclear reactor permitting.

There is also no language regarding futures markets speculation.

The above is a compilation of information found on the web with my comments in ()

Here we go again Nancy and Company don't give a damn about a real energy policy she and her democratic stooges are typical liberal obstructionist. The bill that was passed is an insult to Americas energy problems, this was done so Nancy can claim the Dumpcarts actually did something.

If passed by both houses, the bill would keep 80 percent to 88 percent of known domestic reserves permanently off limits. States would not receive any revenue by allowing offshore drilling, and electricity costs would increase and potentially double in certain states, Republican opponents say. There would be no drilling allowed less than 50 miles offshore -- where experts predict 80 percent to 88 percent of Americas domestic reserves are located.

hmmm

Whatever happened to "drill here, drill now"?

Oh, you want to drill here.

This was done for one simple reason. The Democrats know that Bush will veto this bill and then they can say "Look, Bush doesnt want to drill" "see how Bush is screwing us". Perfect timing but I doubt most people are going to buy it.

Must not foget the democrats (sheeple).

bush has called it a waste of time and it is

states HAVE To approve it and NOT get any money from it
I also heard this MORNING ON CNN........that most of the oil and gas in within the 50 mile limit

more pure politics from liberal dems

THEY WANT IT TO BE VETOED

I also heard this MORNING ON CNN........that most of the oil and gas in within the 50 mile limit

YEAH!

And in typical style, the Welfare Queens of the Corporate World cry for more.

Yup, it goes to show that when you give these Welfare Recipients and inch ----- they demand a mile!

Do Democrats ever hold the same position on an issue for more than two months?

#1 | Posted by cookfish

Hey cheesesteak we adapt as necessary. unlike the retards of the right that keep going headfirst into a course of failure.

Hey--this should help us out in ten years when we're all driving electric cars.

I think this bill has a lot of good points in it.

The legislation calls for drilling 100 miles off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, or beyond 50 miles if governors and state legislatures approve.
[California would never allow drilling less than 50 miles off its shoreline.]

It would repeal tax breaks given to major oil companies in a 2004 bill and would force companies to pay for leases given to them in the late 1990s for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, a move that has saved them $15 billion over the past decade, according to Democratic estimates.

The bill requires 10 percent of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to be released into the marketplace and increases funding for home-heating assistance for the poor'

I don't care if they drill 50 miles off shore. That shouldn't affect my California coastline.
Closer in drilling would mess up the view but not off-shore rigs 50 miles out and an oil spill would probably not be felt either at that distance.

But don't you Republicans get worried about this new drill bill.
Bush has already said he would veto it.

And in typical style, the Welfare Queens of the Corporate World cry for more.

Yup, it goes to show that when you give these Welfare Recipients and inch ----- they demand a mile!

#14 | Posted by Redneckville at 2008-09-18 12:30 PM

Yo Skeeter....ever a Welfare Queen would have brains enough to look for money where there actually was money to be doled out.

Nancy Pelosi may let the Republicans and BIG OIL fall on their asses when the public realizes this country can't refine the oil we have now. The oil companies decided decades ago to limit refineries
so they could make bigger profits. It takes years and tons of money to build the refineries that were lost from 1982 to the present. We now have less than half of the refineries we had 26 years ago. Saudi Arabia even laughed at Bush for wanting more oil. He would literally have to swim in it. Drilling is for idiots.

They are already drilling all over the gulf. as far as i know, there has been no major environmental incident. What makes the rest of you folks think you're too good to have them drilling in your neighborhood?

Fuck california and florida. 2 of the biggest gas gobbling states in the country. Time to let you guys share in the great oil adventure. you're gonna love it. especially the corruption and the malfeasance. i especially liked the interior department sex and drugs thing, it was a nice touch.

Rastaninja is that what you call being spineless? Adapt as necessary ROTFFLMAO!!!!!

I love it....you got more bullshit up your ass than a 2 ton Brahma itself.

The strength they showed in shutting down for vacation, the solidarity behind pilosi's big mouth and then as Emeril would say BAMMMMM!!! The walls come tumbling down.

But you call it, whats that bullshit again, adapt as necesary.

I just grabbed my 1st cup of java and needed to start my day off, what better way than with a good laugh

Fuck california and florida.... Time to let you guys share in the great oil adventure. you're gonna love it.

20 Posted by goblinsrreal2 at 2008-09-18 01:24 PM

Well, a lot of women do find the masculine, rugged, hard hat and workboots kind of guy sorta sexy.
Might not be so bad having all those oil rig guys working right off our California coastline after all.
They can't spend all their time on those off-shore rigs. lol!

"The drilling ban would remain in the eastern Gulf of Mexico."

Why is that? Did all the old farts in Tampa and Naples cry(and pay) enough to get a break?

I just grabbed my 1st cup of java and needed to start my day off, what better way than with a good laugh

#21 | Posted by observer22

Just make sure you don't laugh so hard you spit your coffee all over your keyboard.

Won't be the first time that's happened in this place.

Drilling will never reduce the price of gas. We have plenty of oil. Ya know? Oil is not gas! Also, I'm from Texas and I can smell the damage drilling can cause to our air. It's none too pretty looking out on the Gulf Coast either.

Raise the price of oil through the roof, then demand the right to drill offshore.

Blackmail and extortion are proven effective methods for Corporations to manage our Government for us.

Our economy is not sustainable with $4/gallon gasoline (unless wages were doubled). This will do nothing to get us out of the bind we're in. But the upcoming election and collapsing economy insure lower gas prices in the future.

Shaddows on the wall! The easily accessible and recoverable OIL, is just off the coast of this country!

To allow for drilling, making STATES give permission, without receiving royalty payments means NO DRILLING! And the Oil is closer in!

Natural Gas is being held hostage the same way! We produce over 100% of our natural gas needs, for at least the next 35 - 40 years, yet we import 30% of what we are using, from Mexico (and it IS our Natural Gas that is being IMPORTED)!

Yet you'll return these imbeciles to Washington year after year hoping for different results! Not going to happen, Clinton stopped exploration in ANWR when he was President, Pelosi WILL stop it now!

Enjoy your FORCED vacations! You've earned them!

We're getting exactly what we paid for, NOTHING!

GoblinsrReal says:
"They are already drilling all over the gulf. as far as i know, there has been no major environmental incident. "

Uhhh, been to the Gulf lately? Or perhaps you have a more Republican definition for "major"?

Nobody seems to be bitching about the oil we export to Mexico, Singapore, Canada, etc.

drilling for oil and natural gas? (I guess this is what happens after you rename every post office, and impeachment is off the table)

The Dems cave in to reality?

Hey Lefty nutjobs: That's gotta hurt!

Lets be clear, ExxonMobil has more undeveloped oil and gas field than they have developed. Palin has called them to task on this, resulting in her being "Promoted" (Peter Principled) out of their way.

The Oil Industry is on record as identifying excess refining capacity as the primary reason for gas prices too low for their tastes. This fact has been documented during Congressional Hearings.

The Oil Industry has bought out and removed form the marketplace the Oshevsky battery, in large enough capacity to operate an automobile (they are keeping the technology alive for cell phone applications).

Giving these greedfuckers more leases isn't going to do ordinary citzens any good.

Do Democrats ever hold the same position on an issue for more than two months?

#1 | Posted by cookfish

Hey cheesesteak we adapt as necessary. unlike the retards of the right that keep going headfirst into a course of failure.

#15 | Posted by rastaninja at 2008

HEY COOK

what you read here is typical LIBERAL JIBBERISH
what he is saying is that they all go outside and stick thier fingers in the air to see which way the political wind is blowing today

Drilling will never reduce the price of gas. We have plenty of oil. Ya know? Oil is not gas! Also, I'm from Texas and I can smell the damage drilling can cause to our air. It's none too pretty looking out on the Gulf Coast either.

#25 | Posted by tanaxation at

hey tax
did you see shots from the hurricane about exxon mobile in baytown the LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY
I grew up in the shadow of that refinary and I can tell you........it smelled at times but it was required for the economy and for you to get into that suv and take the kids to activities and such so we dealt with it.
now drive through north shore or pasadena..
WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!! that GREEN air can get REALLY nasty!