Breaking: House lifts ban on offshore drilling

[quaoar]

AP has just moved this one paragraph:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved a bill lifting a 25-year ban on offshore drilling along most of the U.S. coastline.

[quaoar]

1. Here's an update

No link yet though.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Thursday to end a quarter-century offshore drilling ban and allow energy companies to tap natural gas and oil beneath waters from New England to Alaska.

Opponents of the federal ban argued that the nation needed to move closer to energy independence and insisted the gas and oil could be taken without threatening the environment and coastal beaches. They said a state choosing to keep the moratorium could do so.

The measure was approved 232-187.

But the bill’s prospects in the Senate were uncertain. Florida’s two senators have vowed to filibuster any legislation that would allow drilling within 125 miles of Florida’s coast. Other senators from several coastal states also have strongly opposed ending the drilling restrictions.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. ...

40 dems voted for it :(
31 R's voted against :)

[geomon666]

3. Fucking bastards.

I am so sick of these sellouts. I hope they all have houses on the shore and the sludge from these platforms pollutes their home.

[peaches2003]

15. Don't worry

then they'll get their federal insurance that the taxpayers subsidize to pay for their clean-up. :cry:

[MADem]

22. I'm guessing it is heartland types

NIMBY at work and play. If it doesn't affect THEIR constituency, screw 'em. All politics is local.

[PassingFair]

10. Got a rollcall? n/t

[Viva_La_Revolution]

23. just found it...

AYES (D)
Costa
Cramer
Cuellar
Davis (AL)
Davis (TN)
DeFazio
Doyle
Edwards
Marshall
Matheson
Melancon
Mollohan
Murtha
Skelton
Tanner
Taylor (MS)
Thompson (MS)

DeFazio!!? Murtha!!?

Nays (R)
Bartlett (MD)
Bass
Boehlert
Bono
Bradley (NH)
Campbell (CA)
Castle
Davis, Jo Ann
Ehlers
Ferguson
Foley
Frelinghuysen
Gilchrest
Harris
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (IL)
Kelly
Kirk
LaHood
Leach
LoBiondo
Mack
Ramstad
Reichert
Ros-Lehtinen
Sanders
Saxton
Shaw
Shays
Simmons
Smith (NJ)
Weldon (PA)

[still_one]

14. It is still better for us to see that democrats win in 2006

if we at take at least one house then we can start to clean up our party. Actually we already are, Ned Lamont over liberman

[MadMaddie]

16. What the hell? What is going on with the Dems?

:wtf:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

17. unknown

I haven't found the roll call yet. I'm thinking the Dems from the 4 gulf states maybe voted for it, since that's where the money will be made.

and the R's that voted against it? I'm all confused.

:shrug:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. "I'm all confused."

Exactly where they want you.

[mitchtv]

29. My repuke rep Bono voted against it

reason? she wants to be re elected

[alarimer]

24. They must be paid off by big oil

fuck those Democrats.

[Biernuts]

27. I'm amazed by your ability to read their minds - which ones

on the Dem side were motivated by a sincere desire for energy independence from foreign oil. And which Repugs voted no because they really want the nation to have to depend on Chavez?

Come up with something original. "Fuck 'em, they sold out to big oil" only goes so far and has been worn out.

[xchrom]

32. lol -- like depending on chavez is some kind of threat?!?!

depending on saudia arabia is a threat.

depending on oil period is a threat.

depending on bush is a threat.

your line of reasoning is what is worn out -- not reps selling out to private interests.

[WinkyDink]

33. Oh, yes, because Big Oil has zero influence any more! HA!

[OnionPatch]

34. If they have a sincere desire

for energy independence, they should be working on bills to advance alternative energy.

[MADem]

21. Florida's two senators would be TOAST if they voted for this

All of those rich fatcats with their water views would be MOST unhappy if their fancy house overlooked a couple of hideous platforms on the horizon.

[Acadia Blue]

35. What about Bush infested Florida? That too?

[cal04]

4. yahoo link

House votes to end offshore drilling ban
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060629/ap_on_go_co/offshore_drilling_8

[AnOhioan]

5. Lets hope it fails in the Senate. n/t

[Sapere aude]

6. Talk to Santa Barbara and Pismo Beach about how well oil and sand mix.

Those places have big tourist industries and when the oil leaks onto the beaches it is years before they recover.

We should move away from dependence on fossil fuel to become energy self sufficient. Allowing more drilling puts off the inevitable point in time when we have to find other sources of energy. Let's start now and leave the oceans and beaches pristine.

[XemaSab]

18. We have natural tarballs here

Much as I would like to blame it on the oil industry, the oil that washes up here comes from natural oil seeps at the bottom of the sea.

[global1]

25. Maybe They Can Mix In Some Sunscreen - SPF 400 - Then They....

can maybe get some support.

[katty]

7. Santa Monica, Malibu, & CA beach cities have been fighting

for decades, huge tourists dollars, lotsa and lotsa of money-good luck!

[proud patriot]

8. NOT IN MY NAME

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

19. Oddly enough, it WAS in your name!

:wow:

[madfloridian]

9. Opie Putnam led the way, but Nelson and Martinz say they will filibuster

My congressman led the way to get offshore drilling, and people are furious here. That is the redheaded Adam "opie" Putnam.

Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez say they will filibuster.

[Biernuts]

28. where will the other 39 votes come from? n/t

[pinto]

11. I don't see the Senate seconding this one. And CA definitely won't,

regardless of federal action (bill leaves state bans in place.) The House knows this. Seems more election year posturing...:shrug:

[IndianaGreen]

26. Florida won't support this either!

Even Jeb Bush knows what a lose-lose proposition this is for his state.

[yankeeinlouisiana]

30. Louisiana probably will support this.

Sorry, everyone.

:-(

[marmar]

12. BushCo is operating a Cash-and-Carry government...

Pretty soon the air, the water and everything else will be for sale.

[JudyM]

36. Yep. They did it with timber. The whole world is now a looters' paradise.

And plenty of companies have the $ to pay for whatever they want.

[Ghost Dog]

13. So predictable. k&r. n/t.

[OneBlueSky]

31. now there's a neat idea . . . just as hurricanes are increasing . . .

in both breadth and intensity, let's populate our offshore areas with hundreds of new oil rigs . . . just so we can continue our oil-dependent ways that are likely causing the destructive weather patterns in the first place . . .

now THAT's some fine thinkin' there . . . wonder who elected these folks . . .

[Judi Lynn]

37. Environmental fury over US bill to expand oil and gas drilling

Environmental fury over US bill to expand oil and gas drilling
20 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Environmental groups accused the US Congress of selling out to the energy lobby after the House of Representatives voted to lift a 25-year moratorium on offshore oil and natural gas drilling.


"Americans already believe that their Congress lacks the guts to stand up to Big Oil. This vote proves they are absolutely right," said Carl Pope, executive director of the grassroots conservation organisation the Sierra Club.

"They billed this as 'energy week,' but sadly, the only idea they could muster is sticking more oil and gas rigs off our coasts," Pope said.
(snip)

The main sponsor, Representative Richard Pombo (news, bio, voting record) of California, said it was a crucial step in opening up new domestic energy sources at a time of soaring oil and gas prices.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060630/pl_afp/usoilenvironment