Energy Partisanship
Disgusting--yesterday's debate on HR 6899 in our House of Representatives. Sponsored by the democrats, the 240 page bill was first shown to the republicans and the public at 9:30 PM the night before. It did not first go to a committee and no amendments were allowed on the floor of the democratic- controlled House. It supposedly represented a compromise, but as some republican representatives said, it was only a compromise among the democrats. The bill, among other things, would allow some 50 mile out offshore drilling on the east and west coasts, and limited drilling in AMWAR(the protected area in Alaska); would allow shale oil drilling in 3 Western States; and provides for the extension of subsidies and tax credits for renewable energies by taxing the oil companies. The bill passed the House 236-189. It is considered to have no chance of passage in the senate, and congress adjourns in a week or two. It does sound to me like the bill was basically a political maneuver to make it appear the democrats are doing something about the energy crisis and support off-shore drilling. The republicans tried unsuccessfully to kill the bill and bring up for consideration HR 6709, supposedly non-partisan, sponsored by 24 republicans and 24 democrats. There are good things in both of these bills, but there are issues very controversial. What was most disturbing to me in the debate yesterday was how partisan the debate was. No democrat spoke against the bill and no republican spoke in favor of the bill. Definitely nothing is going to be accomplished before the election. Some think there should be a special session after the election in November. But I'm inclined to believe we might as well let matters ride until the new congress. However, it is vitally important that the present law giving tax credits and subsidies for the the development of renewable energy sources, due to expire at the end of this month, be renewed. The senate is presently considering a bill that would do just that.
Disgusting--yesterday's debate on HR 6899 in our House of Representatives. Sponsored by the democrats, the 240 page bill was first shown to the republicans and the public at 9:30 PM the night before. It did not first go to a committee and no amendments were allowed on the floor of the democratic- controlled House. It supposedly represented a compromise, but as some republican representatives said, it was only a compromise among the democrats. The bill, among other things, would allow some 50 mile out offshore drilling on the east and west coasts, and limited drilling in AMWAR(the protected area in Alaska); would allow shale oil drilling in 3 Western States; and provides for the extension of subsidies and tax credits for renewable energies by taxing the oil companies. The bill passed the House 236-189. It is considered to have no chance of passage in the senate, and congress adjourns in a week or two. It does sound to me like the bill was basically a political maneuver to make it appear the democrats are doing something about the energy crisis and support off-shore drilling. The republicans tried unsuccessfully to kill the bill and bring up for consideration HR 6709, supposedly non-partisan, sponsored by 24 republicans and 24 democrats. There are good things in both of these bills, but there are issues very controversial. What was most disturbing to me in the debate yesterday was how partisan the debate was. No democrat spoke against the bill and no republican spoke in favor of the bill. Definitely nothing is going to be accomplished before the election. Some think there should be a special session after the election in November. But I'm inclined to believe we might as well let matters ride until the new congress. However, it is vitally important that the present law giving tax credits and subsidies for the the development of renewable energy sources, due to expire at the end of this month, be renewed. The senate is presently considering a bill that would do just that.
No comments:
Post a Comment