WASHINGTON - The House approved a far-ranging energy bill Thursday that would open an Alaska wildlife refuge to oil drilling and shield makers of a controversial gasoline additive from environmental lawsuits "” both issues likely to meet strong opposition in the Senate.
The bill also would funnel more than $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies to energy companies. Opponents of the legislation said it would do little to foster less energy use. A proposal to require higher fuel economy for cars was rejected.
The administration embraced the legislation, although a White House analysis expressed reservations about the size of the incentives to the oil and gas industries, especially a $2 billion subsidy for developing oil and gas in deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
After passage, President Bush praised the bill as "an important step to secure our energy future and to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy." Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said the measure was not perfect, but "we now have a bill, something to work with."
After two days of debate and amendments, the legislation was approved 249-183 with 41 Democrats joining the GOP majority.
It is "clearly designed to help energy companies make more money, not help the American people save money," said Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California. She called it "anti-consumer, anti-taxpayer, anti-environment" and said it fails to address major concerns of people across the country: high gasoline and other energy costs.
Republican supporters of the bill acknowledged it does little to lower record high prices at the pump, but argued that the provisions are aimed at broadening and increasing the country's energy supply in the long run. They contend that if the bill had become law four years ago, when Bush issued his energy task force report, the current energy problems might not be as acute.
The MTBE gas additive issue brought the most dramatic moment as the House closed in on its final vote Thursday.
House Republican leaders had tried to prevent a floor vote on the issue. Democrats said GOP leaders wanted to shield not only MTBE manufacturers from lawsuits, but also lawmakers from having to vote on a matter involving drinking water contamination in communities in their districts.
Democrats forced a vote, arguing that the MTBE provision violates a 1995 law because it would saddle states and municipalities with huge expenses.
Rep. Lois Capps (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., said groundwater contamination from the additive has affected more than 1,800 community water systems in 29 states with a potential cleanup cost of $29 billion.
Her amendment to remove the provision failed 219-213.
"That was a surrogate vote on Tom DeLay," said Barton. The MTBE provision has been a top priority of DeLay, the majority leader who also has been under criticism from Democrats because of ethics issues. DeLay had insisted on the MTBE industry protection in the bill that passed the House but stalled in the Senate when Democrats launched a filibuster over MBTE in 2003.
BTW: WE energies (wisconsin energies) was just given the go ahead to jack up our rates again for the 3rd time in 3 months.
They are one of the most profitable businesses in the state.
The only crook in the town !!!! [:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(]
Too bad we can't shop for our electric and gas like other items...then we would see lower costs.
Actually , you might just be able to choose who bills you for keeping the lights on regardless of who actually provides the service . It's done somewhat like choosing your long distance service carrier . You might want to look into it .
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Kevin Haendiges
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http://hunting-indiana.com
Too bad we can't shop for our electric and gas like other items...then we would see lower costs.
If your speaking of complete deregulation, you don't want it. At least I don't. In Texas, it hasn't been the dream everyone had hoped. My dad works for an electric cooperative. For residential members, they are about the cheapest in the state. For businesses, they are not, because everyone pays a flat rate (average cost of delivery). The power companies that are shareholder owned can adjust rates as they see fit. It costs much less to serve electricity to an industrial plant than to a residence. So what deregulation does is let the companies that aren't cooperatives lower rates to big business and raise them on residences. So the bill actually goes up. The electric coop also did studies, and found out they would have to raise rates about 10% just because of the billing and people switching back and forth.
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You may beat the rap, but you won't beat the ride!
Gas companies are recording record profits as the price of gas goes out of sight. The adminstration keeps giving to them. You think it might have anything to do with what many of the members did for work prior to becoming cough "public servants" cough. Chevron named one of their tankers The"Condoleezza Rice," she was on their board of dirctors for nine years.
Quote:
Exxon Mobil's profits increased 90 percent in the fourth quarter of last year, to $5.12 billion, a record for a US company. The corporation also beat the yearly US earnings record, with earnings of over $16 billion. Chevron's earnings rose to $1.54 billion, an increase of 88 percent, while profits for both Texaco and USX Marathon more than doubled. Conoco, the country's fourth largest oil and gas company, announced last Monday that its profits rose by 77 percent. These companies have benefited from the California crisis as well as the increased oil prices associated with cuts in oil output from OPEC countries. The newly reported earnings beat out Wall Street estimates, and have led to a general surge in their stock values.
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You're only one post away from a federal watch list.
Oh dear god, I agree with Pelosi, help me
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