Jun 30 2006

Having It Both Ways

Published by Gaius at 2:09 pm under Energy, Politics

Election year mantra: "Cut dependence on foreign oil". Typical election year hijinks: Propose end to ban on drilling in certain areas. Count on people calling for ending dependence on foreign oil to vote against lifting ban.

It's just the best of both worlds, isn't it?

WASHINGTON - Congress has taken a major step toward allowing oil and gas drilling in coastal waters that have been off limits for a quarter-century.

Still, a battle looms in the Senate over the issue. And the Bush administration's support for the legislation, which was approved Thursday by a 232-187 vote in the House, is lukewarm.

The House bill would end an Outer Continental Shelf drilling moratorium that Congress has renewed every year since 1981. It covers 85 percent of the country's coastal waters — everywhere except the central and western Gulf of Mexico and some areas off Alaska.

A filibuster by Florida Senators is a possibility.

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