Posted on 07/14/2008 1:40:45 PM PDT by radar101
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that he would not allow a vote on an amendment giving states new authority to seek oil off their coasts when he brings a Democratic energy bill to the floor later this month.
Reid criticized President Bush’s announcement earlier in the day to rescind a longstanding executive order banning offshore oil drilling, saying it was a gift to the oil companies that are not exploring for oil in 68 millions of acres available to them.
Republicans are now pressuring Democrats to rescind a congressional moratorium prohibiting the practices and give states the option to decide whether to allow drilling off their coasts.
However, Senate Democrats rejected those calls on Monday.
“We want oil and gas companies to drill on the leases they’ve been given,” Reid said.
He added that oil companies should report to Congress their activities on their leased land and said Congress will invest in renewable energy by pushing through a stalled package of expiring tax incentives.
Democrats blame market speculators on oil industry futures for playing a role in propping up energy prices, and are drafting a bill targeting the practice, which will be unveiled Wednesday. When the Senate votes on that bill, as soon as this month, Reid said he would not allow amendments dealing with oil drilling, which the Republicans will almost certainly seek.
"I said and was very clear that we need to focus on issues of specific matters," Reid said.
The reaction puts Democrats in line with their presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), who opposes lifting the offshore-drilling ban. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) reversed his longstanding support for the ban, and has said that boosting supplies will help bring down soaring gas prices.
"It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for 30 years," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Monday of Bush's decision.
Republicans support targeting speculators as well, but have called for a broader energy package that would also boost domestic production.
"The key to bringing down record-high gas prices is to find more American energy, as well as use less," Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), GOP conference chairman, said.
"After today’s announcement by the president, the only hurdle left to beginning offshore exploration is congressional action, and it’s time for the Democratic leadership to listen to the millions of Americans who are demanding we begin today."
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) called Reid a "chicken" for not allowing votes on oil drilling.
"Does it seem to you like it does to me like Harry Reid is either scared chicken to have a vote, or has decided that he's going to dictate to the United States Senate?" the ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee said, turning to Alexander at a GOP press conference. "I don't know if you'll use the word 'chicken,' but I will because that's what he's saying: He's saying, 'I'm frightened by the idea that we're going to actually have a vote on a new plan for this huge, huge, reserve of gas and oil that belongs to none other than the people of the United States.' "
Domenici said Congress would be forced to revisit the issue during debate over the interior appropriations bill, which usually includes the congressional moratorium on offshore drilling.
Republicans stopped short of saying they would filibuster the oil-speculation bill, but suggested they would protest any efforts to limit amendments. They plan to discuss strategy at their weekly Tuesday policy lunch.
"Any serious proposal to deal with $4 gasoline prices has to include finding more American energy, as well as using less," Alexander said. "Sen. Reid is not willing to do that."
Introduce 100 drilling amendments. Make Reid turn down every one of them.
Expect the GOP to NOT use this as a serious campaign issue.
Purchased, not given.
Does no good to drill if there ain't any oil there Harry.
This claim is so phony.
Has someone published a good article about how lame this particular talking point really is? i.e. something that actually describes the exploration leases in question, how much has been explored, and how much has been found? And what is really the potential for recoverable oil/gas?
I've read that at least one of these leases has a potential oil deposit worth recovering, but they can't get a drilling permit. Can someone point me to that, too?
WALKING AND FREEZING ‘O8 - The Democratic Party
These Dem statements are popular on the Internet where they can be heard or read over and over for amusement. Nobody believes them anymore and they get more ridiculous every day.
At least until McCain weighs in.
“He added that oil companies should report to Congress their activities on their leased land and said Congress will invest in renewable energy by pushing through a stalled package of expiring tax incentives.”
Spoken like a true cami. Traitorous bastard.
Keep yelling it from the rafters. IT'S OUR OIL. LET US HAVE IT!!!!
The Whigs disappeared when they failed to take a stand on an critical national issue. If the GOP passes on this, they need to follow the Whigs.
BRING BACK DUELING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Exactly these areas are not very promising for oil. Otherwise they (oil companies) would be drilling like crazy at $140/Barrel. This lunatic Reid is going to kill us all.
These leases are not "given" as you so indelicately put it (as though they belong to YOU or worse yet to the Gubmint, you jerk).
They are PURCHASED from the land owners, or even from Gubmint for Gubmint land (by the way, if the Gubmint OWNS the land, doesn't that mean "We the People" own that land so maybe WE want to sell it) you idiot!
Respectfully,
A US Citizen
“We want oil and gas companies to drill on the leases they’ve been given,” Reid said.
I keep seeing this argument. What’s the basis of it, and what has the oil companies’ response been? Anybody? Buehler?
Is there any definitive information on what has or has not been done with the current leases?
Does anyone know exactly how these resource leases on government lands work?
How much does the initial lease cost (I doubt they are "given")? Is there an annual fee? Can they be returned if found to be unproductive or does the oil compnay have them for X number of years based on the original contract? Can they be extended past the original term?
From what I understand, the oil company will get the original lease based on an educated guess of where there might be oil. They then do more detailed geological studies, then seismic soundings, then test wells, then more test wells to determine the extent of a field, then production wells. If at any of those steps it looks like it isn't worth the expense of continuing the oil company will give up on it. Also, even if it looks good, it might take years to do each step, during which time Congress will bawl that the leased land isn't being used. Am I missing anything?
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) called Reid a “chicken” for not allowing votes on oil drilling.
“Does it seem to you like it does to me like Harry Reid is either scared chicken to have a vote, or has decided that he’s going to dictate to the United States Senate?” the ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee said, turning to Alexander at a GOP press conference. “I don’t know if you’ll use the word ‘chicken,’ but I will because that’s what he’s saying: He’s saying, ‘I’m frightened by the idea that we’re going to actually have a vote on a new plan for this huge, huge, reserve of gas and oil that belongs to none other than the people of the United States.’ “
‘Bout damn time we started some honest name-callin’! And I love that he turned to the other Pubbie and said, “Hey, you don’t have to get on this train, but I’m callin’ a spade a spade”!
My guess is that his view will change now that the American economy and wallets are being affected to this degree.
He’d be an idiot not to...oh oh..never mind.
“Idle” lease claims based on lack of understanding: Cavaney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035201/posts
Access critical to addressing U.S. energy challenges: Cavaney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037301/posts
“Idle” lease claims based on lack of understanding: Cavaney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035201/posts
Access critical to addressing U.S. energy challenges: Cavaney
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037301/posts
He and his fellow Dems are in “The Dead Zone”, without even Verizon coverage.
Thanks for the links!
/new tone
It is my understanding that the Federal Government owns none of the land in question, the states do. The states have not signed the deeds over to the Federal Government.
Another scam from the government.
Villian “Oil-Can Harry”
SPREAD THE WORD
TUESDAY JULY 15TH CONTACT YOUR CONGRESS
TELL YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, NEIGHBORS AND COWORKERS
FLOOD CONGRESS TUESDAY JULY 15TH
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
IF ANY OF THEM VALUE THEIR JOB, I’M SURE THEY WILL SHIFT THEIR POSITION!!!
DRILL HERE - DRILL NOW!!
How about letting them drill where there's still oil?
How about telling us why you wont let it come to a vote??? Let our reps do what we sent them to DC to do - represent us, which they do by voting.
When were you elected King that YOU and YOU alone decide what can even be brought to a vote?
And can someone explain to me where he and his Komrad, pelosi, get to keep votes they don't want passed from coming to the floor...and why that isn't tantamount to a dictatorship?
If one party can control which bills even get voted on, where is the democracy? Is that not a dictatorship?
Time to fire off another round of DRILL NOW - DRILL WHERE THE OIL IS.
They're nervous with the new low approval rate of 9%. Let's make it ZERO.
It's time to compose a list of every senator/congresscritter that apposes drilling and target them personally - especially those up for reelection.
We have a window of opportunity NOW, folks. Let's not let is slip past us.
We have a winner here. We need to run with it. Harass your CongressCritter. Call tomorrow and melt down their lines.
Force them to take a vote..up or down. Drill offshore, Drill ANWR and drill the Grand Canyon..just to spite McCain.
That's the spirit - throw sand in the crankcase.
Ever think a battle is easier won by shooting at the enemy - we don't need friendly fire on this issue.
YThis is what must be used against everyDemoSocialist economis enslaver running for election or re-election this year. Ads should be run agaist each and every one of them, and the Dims as a whole, about how they are digging their nails into the throats of the American people, with their cold blooded, evil attempts to gain control. Control to te4ll you how you can live, what you can say, what you can do. What you can think, and how successful you are allowed to be.
Meet your new enslavers....Same as your old enslavers.
Face it! Pelosi and Reid don’t give a damn about you, and whether you live or not...as long as they are in control of you if you *do* manage to “Endeavor to Persevere”.
Good for Pete. Sadly, he is retiring and will likely be replaced with a Democrat. Does the name Udall mean anything to anyone? 'Nuff said.
The starving people of the world don’t need more food, they just need to take smaller bites. :)
Why make oil companies spend time and money looking for oil when we know right where it is? That is just going to prolong the gas to our vehicles and increase the cost once it gets there.
Pete is retiring because of an incurable brain disease similar to Alzheimer’s. He has six-month’s left in his term and is becoming very feisty over this issue. See my post above about his likely replacement.
It’s like satire... but it isn’t...
The Democrats don’t represent the American people. They represent the environmental lobby. Vote accordingly. They should be kicked out of office.
“This claim is so phony.”
But then, so is Reid.
Reid is just a plug in the colon of life.
He would turn America into a third world nation.
Right on!
One assumes that some crude is easier to get and therefore more profitable, while later on, crude becomes more and more expensive to get out of the ground.
Hope these answers are what you are looking for.
Idiots! Complete morons! If there was oil there worth exploiting, they would be doing so. Yeah Harry, the eeeeeevil oil companies are sitting on top of so much oil, they just don’t want to produce it because hey they aren’t in it for the profits.
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