Waxman nose Banana Republics.
Posted on 10/07/2005 2:20:19 PM PDT by Leroy S. Mort
The House narrowly approved a Republican-crafted energy bill Friday aimed at encouraging construction of new refineries, although opponents said it would do nothing to ease energy prices while handing unneeded benefits to a profit-rich oil industry.
Supporters of the measure said that hurricanes Katrina and Rita made clear that the country needs more refineries, including new ones outside of the Gulf region. Critics argued it would allow the oil industry to avoid environmental regulations that would lead to dirtier air.
The bill passed 212-210. Its prospects in the Senate were uncertain.
The vote, which was supposed to be taken in five minutes, lasted more than 40 minutes as GOP leaders searched for the last two votes they needed to get the bill approved. They buttonholed lawmakers for last-minute lobbying as Democrats complained loudly that the vote should be closed. Finally two GOP lawmakers switched from ``no'' to ``yes,'' giving the bill's supporters the margin of victory.
``Is this the House of a Banana Republic?'' Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., shouted at one point, expressing his frustration about the GOP holdup of the final tally.
No Democrats voted for the legislation.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said the bill streamlines the maze of permitting requirements for expanding or building refineries and directs the president to single out federal land where a refinery may be built. The changes could lead to construction of a new U.S. refinery within a year, he predicted.
But opponents said the legislation fails to address the rising cost of natural gas - which will cause heating costs to soar this winter - or deal with high prices motorists are paying at the pump. Instead, they argued, it will allow the oil industry to avoid environmental rules and force states and communities to accept refineries they don't want.
``Using Hurricane Katrina as their excuses the Republicans are again pushing their special interest agenda,'' said Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, including ``all the special favors to the industry that were too extreme'' for Congress last summer when it passed energy legislation.
But Barton said the need for more refineries was made obvious by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The hurricanes shut down a dozen refineries and disrupted a fifth of the country's gasoline supply.
The GOP legislation would give the federal government greater say in locating a refinery, at times, critics said, over community or state objections. It directs the president to select a number of closed military bases and other federal land available for refineries.
The bill also would limit to six the different blends of gasoline and diesel fuel that refiners would be required to produce, reversing a trend of using so-called ``boutique'' fuels to satisfy clean air demands. State officials complained the provision could limit states' ability to implement federal clean air requirements.
``The bill weakens state and federal environmental standards ... and gives a break to wealthy oil companies while doing little or nothing to affect oil prices,'' complained Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., one of 13 Republicans who voted against the measure.
With prices soaring, ``oil companies now have all the profits and incentives they need to build new refineries'' without government help, he maintained.
Barton countered that the legislation would give industry more ``certainty'' that a refinery project will not be delayed ``without lessening any environmental law now on the books. ... The bill sets in motion a chain of events for lowering gas prices for Americans.''
Attempts to add requirements that automakers increase vehicle fuel economy and a measure aimed at producing more natural gas were thwarted by GOP leaders who strictly limited the ability of lawmakers to amend the bill.
``Natural gas is an issue this (Congress) needs to deal with,'' said Rep. John Peterson, R-Pa., who was prevented under House rules for the bill from offering a proposal that would have opened offshore natural gas resources to drilling.
Among the groups trying to kill the bill were the National League of Cities, nine state attorneys general, most environmental organizations and groups representing state officials in charge of implementing federal clean air requirements. They said the bill would hinder their ability to ensure clean and healthy air.
The bill number is H.R. 3893. Additional information can be found at http://thomas.loc.gov
Waxman nose Banana Republics.
The democrat party is without question the absolute enemy of the United States and its people. This evil political entity must be destroyed.
Just saw TV coverage of the shouting match... what a bunch of lunatics those dems are.
That means it will.
Imagine a Democrat complaining about a "special interest".
... what a bunch of lunatics those dems are.
----
Yes, they ARE THE PROBLEM. And NEVER any part of a solution. Never. These maggots are doing everything they can to try and bury any attempt at a workable, important energy policy for this country. Clinton was a total failure on energy, and by design. So the Thugocrat anti-America policy continues...with them fighting tooth and nail to hurt America any way they can.
Bingo! you nailed it.
The DNC just can't stand losing fairly and squarely at the ballot box, always have to resort to ad hominem attacks.
This is a very good move. It would be better still if they eliminated the requirement altogether, but keeping the number down to six is a good intermediate step.
It was a no-brainer for Oil Companies to not build refineries. When any idiot with access to a typewriter could file briefs to shut down a project for years by filing bogus legal challenges, who is going to sink that kind of money into developing a project. It is easier to just stack the money made by selling the scarce product than try to gain share by increasing capacity.
We know about the Dems, they aren't the story here. This close vote and defection of Repubs illustrates the weak Republican majority in Congress.
This is also why Bush could not bring a strong conservative nomination for the SCOTUS to the Senate. Too many RINOs would wimp out when it came time for the nuclear option. Bush can't trust Congress to back him, especially the Senate.
Prediction: The refinery bill won't pass the Senate. It won't come to a vote.
No, Mr. Waxman, this is the House of a Banana Reopublic:
The DNC just can't stand losing fairly and squarely at the ballot box, always have to resort to ad hominem attacks.
------
They are idiots and fools, and they really cannot deal with HOW USELESS AND IRRELEVANT they really are to America. They have become so anti-America, they cannot see reality in this country any more.
Does anyone know why so many republicans voted against it and/or who they were? Was it RINOs who were concerned about the reversal of clean air requirements or conservatives concerned about the allocation of federal money to build refineries.
Rights, farms, environment ping.Sure, Glad to. Mr. Waxman, in an attempt to curry favor of young voter's was attempting to improve his image by changing his wardrobe to a more 'hip' look. He intended to go shopping at the mall, located near the capitol building and was confused. Upon his arrival in the Capitol, out of shear frustration he yelled, to no one in particular:
I understand he was given directions and soon left, much to the relief of all members of the House.
;)
Democrats, the party of "no." They're against everything we are for, regardless of country, safety, survival...etc.
By the same token, there are too many Republicans who can't bear winning...and the accountability that comes with it.
There was no good reason not to vote for this measure. Even northeastern RINOs should understand that new refineries and streamlined distribution will mean a more reliable source of and lower costs for fuel -- for both transportation and home heating.
Why they would quail in front of the envirowacko lobby is beyond me.
BTTT
err I should have said "I'm not sure I get Waxman's meaning..."
although opponents said it would do nothing to ease energy prices while handing unneeded benefits to a profit-rich oil industry.
These people realyy twist my shorts! including some here on FR. Before folks make unsubstantiated mantra- statements, they should do some homework. That is assuming that the politicians have ever worked in the private sector, can read a P&L statement, read a balance sheet, understand Return On Investment, calculate net profits on a percentage basis to revenues.
Accounting 101, Economics 101, Marketing 101. Or if the Universities are price gouging, for $18.00 the unwashed ignorant can buy these books Books For Dummies at $6.00 a pop. Then go on the internet and read the financial statements.
Then understand distribution logistics and supply chain. R&D, exploration, government restrictions, the spot crude market, refining capacity, the environment laws, OSHA, EPA.
Fellow FReepers, what did I miss?
Aside from my friends in the military, most of my friends were in the oil industry.
I walked through Texaco Oil's World headquarter where my wife worked and there were about a 100 tax-freakin' accountants. I asked the senior guy what the 40" tall stack of paper was. He said that it was Texaco's tax return.
Anyone want to talk about Western Europe or Russia? The beauracracy is pure BS.
If my wife were authoring this rant it would go on for-ever.
Bottom line... I am sick and tired of people making unfounded statements about the EEEEVVIIILLL oil companies.
By my extrapolated calculations, Exxon will have a net of about 8% this year.
Now the libs, who pay nothing into Social Security and point the finger at W for privatising SS (0.0% return will call this an extremem sense of price gouging and extreme profits.
It's oil for profits, dontcha know
/rant.
Nomex, Kevlar and Tin Foil hat on. Backup systems in the Hummer for further mental and factual conversations.
See my tagline.
Halliburton isn't getting rich either.
Bingo. Thank you. I thought I was the only freemarket capitalist here. My Dad ran his own little $3m steel distibution company. He employed about 17 people. The unions threatened to put him out of business. He said, "That's okay, I'll just doze it into the ground. Sell the property. Then what?" Dad didn't put up with thugs. And all of the transactions were on the books. He was a Lehigh grad and NEVER did a lot of the shinanigans that our competitors did with cash transaction for the scrpa. Up-An-Up. And that is the way I run my business. Too bad that there are so many whore politicians (read Clintons) who are whores to this once great Republic of the United States of America.
Sadly, I have asked my children (mid-twenties to not procreate. Their children, my grand-children will be subjected to Marxism. That assumption is my own opinion. My wife of 33 years agrees with me and she is a lot more liberal than I.
I wouldn't know. I haven't looked at the "rich" P&L or Balance Sheet. Do you have a link? Inquiring minds of facts would like to know and understand FACTS.
There is Bayer, Anacin, Dimetap, Stridex, Milk of Magnesia, Cahp-Stik, Preh-H, Glaxoc SmithKline Beecham, Sterling Drug, IBM, Reed Traval, Carolina Records, Paramount, Viacom, Ethan Allen, Drexel Heritage, Anderson Machines, Ford New Holland.
Yup the're all crooks, But I have READ their P&L's and Balance Sheets.
American corporations are EEVILL entities.
Accounting 101, Economics 101 is a start in understanding a corporation's direction. I have sat on several Boards of Directors. My wife wrote the financial statistal entities and vebals for several years for Texaco Europe. Google on Paul B. Hicks, Al Decrane, Peter Bijur. She wrote their speeches.
She did tremendous marketing campaign presentations to these individuals.
Some folks need to understand the business of business.
Nomex and Kevlar on from libs who live in la-la-land.
Cheers.
Actually, I'd say that Waxman nose Pigs
I know lots of guys that work for Halliburton, and they tell me how tough it is to make a profit. They are not getting rich.
If the oil companies have had it so good, why has it been 30 years since the last refinery was built in the US?
Environmental obstructionism is the core root of America's energy problems...........bottom line! And the Democrats have found that environmental law is about the only way they can force an agenda on America. The party has no other appeal except class warfare and race baiting.
Oil industry can build a refinery in my back yard any time!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.