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.
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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.
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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.
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