Dems yielding to pressure on drilling
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Dems yielding to pressure on drilling
| Thu, 07-31-2008 - 8:28am |
Oil company lobbyists expect to return from the August recess with a growing roster of Democratic allies, a result of the intense pressure lawmakers will face over the break from voters concerned about high gas prices.
As gas prices fluctuate near $4 per gallon, polling shows that public support for expanding domestic oil exploration is at its highest point in a decade.
A slow trickle of Democrats — particularly those facing tough elections in economically struggling states — have recently expressed openness to traditionally Republican-backed initiatives that would open up protected areas to oil exploration.
Oil lobbyists welcome the shifting landscape





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Pelosi blocks offshore drilling vote GOP wants
(08-01) 04:00 PDT Washington --
For weeks, pressure has been mounting in Congress to approve more domestic oil drilling, but House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held the line, using her power to block a vote on offshore drilling.
President Bush has made almost daily calls for Democratic leaders to take action. House GOP leaders, citing a new poll showing that a slim majority of Californians now favor offshore drilling, issued a release Thursday saying "even (Pelosi's) own California neighbors oppose her efforts to block new drilling far off American coasts." GOP lawmakers are so disgruntled they're urging Bush to deny Congress its August break by calling a special session on energy.
Some Democrats wary
Even some Democrats are getting antsy, fearing the party's stance could hurt them in the fall elections. But Pelosi, who has opposed offshore drilling throughout her two decades in Congress, insists opening new areas to drilling won't lower gas prices in the short term. She believes a vote would only help the GOP blame Democrats for high gas prices.
"I will not ... give the administration an excuse for its failure," Pelosi said at an end-of-session roundtable interview Thursday.
Republicans have put a bull's-eye on the federal moratorium on coastal drilling, which has kept most of the East and West coasts off limits to new oil rigs since 1982. Bush announced earlier this month that he would lift the presidential moratorium on drilling, and the GOP is now seeking to lift the congressional ban.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/31/MNSH122TA3.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Here's my question.. if the Government is supposed to be representing the people and working *for* the people.. why not allow a vote at least?
I totally agree with you!
Because it's all poliltics and making the other party look bad.
I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure
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I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure
I disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure
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