House Dems Concede Defeat on Offshore Drilling
Terry Trippany on Sep 24 2008 at 8:45 am | Filed under: Feature Article, Politicians at Work
Amazing things happen during election years. This is the one time where politicians that normally have tin ears suddenly hear things loud and clear.
WASHINGTON - Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wis., told reporters Tuesday that a provision continuing the moratorium will be dropped this year from a stopgap spending bill to keep the government running after Congress recesses for the election.
Republicans have made lifting the ban a key campaign issue after gasoline prices spiked this summer and public opinion turned in favor of more drilling. President Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling in July.
“If true, this capitulation by Democrats following months of Republican pressure is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices,” said House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio. - AP News via Yahoo
Better late than never but there is still that uneasy feeling as indicated by Boehner’s caution. We have seen these things disappear in one place only to show up later somewhere else. Democrats might also be tempted to use this opportunity to beef up pet projects so it remains to be seen just how far the legislation will go.
President Bush has promised to veto any bill that comes across his desk containing language that limits drilling.
The House will act on the bill today. The Senate is expected to go along.
