Michelle Malkin » Democrats pass hoax drilling bill

Democrats pass hoax drilling bill

By Michelle Malkin • September 16, 2008 10:55 PM

Nancy Pelosi declared drilling a “hoax.”

Now, after getting hammered by the GOP and public opinion demanding that the Democrats in charge take steps toward energy independence, San Fran Nan and her do-nothing crew have passed a drilling bill that is, well, a hoax. The bill is HR 6899.

Text here. The roll call vote is here.

CQ reports tonight:

After months of debate about expanding offshore oil and gas drilling, the House passed legislation Tuesday that could open up large areas off U.S. coastlines to energy production.

The bill (HR 6899) passed 236-189 despite the objections of Republicans who said it would do little to boost offshore oil and gas production. President Bush threatened a veto.

A Republican attempt to stall the measure was defeated. The chamber voted 191-226 against a motion to recommit the bill to the Natural Resources Committee.

After watching Republicans gain political traction in recent weeks with calls for more offshore drilling, Democratic leaders hope the legislation will provide political cover for moderate members of their caucus who face tough re-election fights.

Democrats touted the bill as a compromise that would expand domestic production and invest in alternative energy sources. It would allow drilling beyond 100 miles off U.S. shores and give states the option of allowing production beyond 50 miles from the shores. It proposes major incentives for renewable energy, building efficiency and advanced technologies for coal-fired power plants.

The American Conservative Union called out the Dem bluff earlier today:

When we were kids, we all played a variation of the game “Let’s Pretend” in which we pretended to do something or be somebody knowing it was make-believe. The authors of this bill are playing “Let’s Pretend” with the American people, pretending they are passing a bill to increase domestic energy production when they know it will do no such thing.

By eliminating revenue sharing for the states in royalties for offshore oil and gas drilling while requiring states to approve the drilling leases, the bill’s sponsors know it is unlikely the states will bother to give their approval. Even Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana has said this bill “will not see the light of day in the Senate” should it pass the House.

The bill prohibits drilling less than 50 miles offshore when the sponsors know that, to give an example, 95% of the known reserves off the coast of California are less than 50 miles out.

Once again, as in other energy legislation, the bill needlessly increases taxes that only serve to increase the cost of energy. The bill will also increase electricity bills for the average consumer by forcing utility companies to use alternative fuels regardless of the cost. This provision has already been rejected by the Senate in a previous energy bill.

The American people are demanding we change our bankrupt energy policy which has prevented the U.S. from utilizing our own resources and made us dangerously dependent on foreign oil supplies from unfriendly countries. They will not fall for a bill full of gimmicks which does not do the job.

Sham:

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.

***

Keep putting pressure on the Senate’s sellout Gang of [Fill-in-the-blank). It’s up to 20.

Posted in: Democrats, Enviro-nitwits, Nancy Pelosi

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#458446

On September 17th, 2008 at 11:02 am, DBNinKY said:

Me too. I’m very glad they did this. Why? They’ll pay for it come November.

You know it! They’ll also be taken to task in November for increasing poverty in the coal fields of Appalachia by vilifying coal as unclean and unsafe!
#458454

On September 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am, powerpro said:

What is the name and number for this bill in the Senate?
#458455

On September 17th, 2008 at 11:07 am, Dan Lee said:

I especially liked the affirmative action section of the “Sugar Pill Drill Bill“..

SEC. 109. SMALL, WOMAN-OWNED, AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(q) Opportunities for Leasing- The Secretary shall establish goals to ensure equal opportunity to bid on offshore leases for qualified small, women-owned, and minority-owned exploration and production companies and may implement, where appropriate, outreach programs for qualified historically underutilized exploration and production companies to participate in the bidding process for offshore leases.

Nancy Placebo (D)Calif.
#458460

On September 17th, 2008 at 11:10 am, jamesgreenidge said:

On September 17th, 2008 at 10:14 am, JP_Texan said:

Just look at the Gulf of Mexico over the last few weeks. It just went through two of the largest hurricanes on record in Gustav and Ike and not a drop was spilled.

But you know, even if a thousand gallons spilled — so what?? It’s not Doomsday and the Earth won’t even know it happened except for a couple of media-grabbing oily ducks. Really! A worker at Indian Point once remarked at our school board that if a bucket of water as radioactive as a couple of old fashioned watches from a generator cleaning job was spilled, the NYC media would be pouncing like wailing tigers on them — the same people who want to see drivers on the NY Thruway enjoy the romantic sight of windmills all the way from Tappan to Albany — whose total wattage tiny Indian Point (just 1 reactor on there!) discretely handles.

James Greenidge
Queens New York

Our brave soldiers fight and die so caribou can frolic and screw in peace.
#458564

On September 17th, 2008 at 12:04 pm, walterc said:

NJ Aviator, I noticed that the footnote on Canada mentioned the tar sands as included in the reserve total, but it didn’t mention the shale oil in the Green River formation in Co, Wy & Ut (among other smaller areas).

This website http://ostseis.anl.gov/guide/oilshale/index.cfm> estimates between 1.2 & 1.8 Trillion (with a “T”) barrels of oil in the Green River oil shale formation.
#458594

On September 17th, 2008 at 12:18 pm, dkrising said:

I’d also like to know what the companion Senate legislation is. I’ve sent a note to Norm Coleman (R-When It’s Convenient), but couldn’t find anything on THOMAS or his site about the Gang of (100-# of Conservative Republicans). Any info?
#458676

On September 17th, 2008 at 12:47 pm, dadinseattle said:

To quote a famous Alaskan Governor
“You people are in need of some adult supervision” (congress)

and to quote another famous General they are
“Stuck on stupid!”

No re-election for sham artists should be the standard e-mail message for these new Dems that are up for election this time!
#458734

On September 17th, 2008 at 1:13 pm, Devil's Advocate said:

I have the statement from the American Petroleum Institute on this sham bill.
#458876

On September 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm, doppelganglander said:

I just emailed my two senators, Isakson and Chambliss, who were among the first on board with this travesty. Chambliss is up for reelection and I told him in no uncertain terms I would not be voting for him if he doesn’t change his tune. These two flipped on amnesty after a little public pressure, so there may be hope.
#459140

On September 17th, 2008 at 5:28 pm, tiredofit08 said:

one can only hope that the dems feel it at the ballot box and feel it hard…hand them their pink slips!!!