Another problem with the energy bill

[salin]

While I have tried to follow this issue - and highlight problems in the bill - this article lays one out that I had not yet seen discussed. That the bill requires that approvals (or nonapprovals) for new drilling projects is given within 30 days - far too short of time to do a full analysis on the impact of such projects. This is from the Grand Junction, CO newspaper (I saw it too late to put it in LBN)

01.31.04 Energy projects may harm wild, report says
By ERIN McINTYRE The Daily Sentinel
Local recreationists went to Washington, D.C., this week to persuade officials to be cautious about expediting energy production in the West.

Keith Goddard, who owns and operates Magnum Outfitters in Rifle, and Bob Elderkin, a retired Bureau of Land Management employee of Silt, decided to go right to the top to voice their concerns about provisions of the National Energy Bill that they say could harm their back yards.

snip...

The residents are concerned about a provision of the Energy Bill requiring decisions on drilling permits within 30 days, as well as portions that Trout Unlimited claims would exempt the industry from the Clean Water Act.

“It’s impossible,” said Goddard. “They cannot go out and do the on-sites, do the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act), do the studies and have it done in 30 days.”

more:
GJ Sentinal article

[salin]

1. Another related article... WHERE the bill targets drilling

And the total amount expected to be gained (1 years heating for 15 million homes - this lays out what the 'costs' are in terms of where the loss of public use of public lands compared to the 'gain' - minimal in terms of our total energy needs.

http://www.kotv.com/pages/viewpage.asp?id=57372

the item just lists the areas (hard to excerpt). In general terms includes regions in the following areas - go to the link for specifics.

northwestern Colorado and eastern Utah
southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico
southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico
southwestern Wyoming
north-central Montana

Total amount of federal land in the five basins: 59.4 million acres

[dusty64]

2. There is nothing

good about this dirty corporate welfare plan. Knowing who created it and under the sneaky and secretive conditions that it was done, I can't believe its even been this close of a battle. How can these politicians continue to nakedly steal from the People and give to these bloated corporations that do not care one bit about this Country. There simply is NO question who Washington represents anymore yet they are getting more open and obvious about it. This all really leads me to believe enough of these extremist corporate created "election" machines are in place that they fear the wrath of the voters no more.

[salin]

8. I think the new mantra should be: RNC = the anti-democracy party

and the process in this - and the medicare and the omnibus spending bill - along with the end product from those things used as the simple evidence to make that case. Then supplement it with GOP endruns around redistricting (forget the once a decade revisions after the census - lets do it on an ongoing basis says the GOP...), around florida (forget ensuring that folks have voting rights... all that matters is that we win!)... etc.

[salin]

3. IMPORTANT READ --- New dev. in GOP strategy to the Energy Bill

Break it apart (signalling that there is STILL not enough support even after the president's push in the SOTU, and after Sen. Daschle's pledge to pass the bill {due to ethanol interests in his own state - and his upcoming reelection})... and attach it to other legislation that is so compelling that folks will vote for it.

This signals a recognition of legislative failure on the one hand (the GOP can't pass it after 2 years and 2 tries...) the continued demand by the white house to get it passed (and preferably before Cheney's papers might be forced to be released related to his energy task force; and why now? where do we think much of the push for massive bush fundraising comes-- corporate interests (esp energy) - they need to prove that they can deliver...)

HOWEVER - this approach - if folks are not following where these items crop up - could be very hard to fight. This is a very important development (if it occurs) to follow.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2379801

Jan. 30, 2004, 10:26PM

Republicans try to save energy bill
By DAVID IVANOVICH
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Faced with continued opposition to a comprehensive energy bill, Republican lawmakers are considering attaching a slimmed-down version of the legislation to the ever-popular highway bill.

With Democrats determined to block key aspects of the energy bill, and some Republicans objecting to its price tag, the legislation's proponents have been struggling to try to salvage what they can of the measure.

The highway bill is an obvious target for such a strategy because the legislation is loaded with lots of goodies members want to bring home for their constituents.

"I wouldn't be surprised if that was what we ended up doing," Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said Friday, after a meeting with other Republican leaders at a GOP retreat in Philadelphia.

more: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2379801

[dusty64]

5. It is obvious they

are seeing the real possibility of losing power this year and are pushing their extremist agenda as hard as they can. A smart opposition would begin picking apart these rotten bills and informing the public exactly how they are being screwed by the rightwing. Attaching these crappy ideas to other bills and ramming them through without even being read by our lawmakers has been stunningly successful these days and is a certain sign that the system no longer works or serves the People. I fear that many of the most abhorrent parts of this secret industry crafted POS will be shoved through this way.
P.S. I appreciate all you have done trying to keep this topic in the forefront salin. It seems many are not paying attention. This has been one of my main issues as well and its effects will be irreversably felt for years to come.

[salin]

6. Thanks dusty.

You have helped to keep these items up - and read.

I think you are right - both that this is their new strategy - and that about the way to publically fight it.

The strategy, I believe, has been going on for awhile - but went public in a big way with the three ugly bills: energy, medicare reform, and the omnibus spending bill. Here they went public when they changed the conference committee process, locked dems completely out, rewrote entire peices of legislation - relying on LOBBYISTS to write parts of it, and then delivering a massive piece of legislation (each well over 1,000 pages) giving the dems on conference committee only a coupld of days to read/analyze before voting.

I believe that the new GOP guerilla practices in congress should be an issue - and that some of the ugly things (that are clearly NOT in the public interest) should be pulled out and held up to light as evidence of how they (Congressional GOP) are acting in ways that are a) antidemocracy; and b) anti public interest.

[buddhamama]

4. nearby residents have good reason to be concerned

with the Energy Bill and Bush's latest move to keep secret possible
dangers from the public; all under the guise that it could aid terrorists.

there is one point on which i have hope this Bill will be defeated.
Some Republicans and Democrats have come out against the Bill because of the huge tax breaks in gives to the Industry and, the effect it would have on the Federal Budget.

[salin]

7. Especially after bush presents his budget

which I believe is scheduled to happen early next week.

However, this is what makes this alternative plan (break out parts and put them as riders onto other bills) so insidious. As a bill it is hugely expensive and easier to block (heck the price tag went up from 19billion before conference committee to more than 31billion after it was rewritten by industry.) As smaller pieces with big pricetags - but harder to see as they are buried in other legislation - it will be harder to fight.

[salin]

9. Are folks reading this?

It has very serious, long-term implications for our future.

Please - even if this isn't your main issue - chime in - keep the story alive and read - and let other folks know that even if not the top issue there are many who care - read - try to be informed - and are positioned to take action when the time is called for (eg letters, calls, etc.)

Thank you.

[dusty64]

10. Things are pretty slow

around here today. Time to contact our wavering Senators again. :kick: