Then most republicans in congress are those freaking fruitcakes. Why else would they support tax breaks for the oil industry but not for alternative energy? This kind of stuff just pisses me off.

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

It's a puzzle, ain't it?

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Hey, and with the likely increase in mega storms on the gulf, we're talking job security, endless market, etc.

I remember the year after Katrina, MikeMover was going on with, "so where's all those mega hurricanes all the greenies were telling us we'd be getting?"

But that was ages ago, I mean what, 2 years?

__________________
Te futueo et caballum tuum

1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I dunno about no Repos. I guess when people start talking about special taxes and special tax incentives and all I start thinking about treating everybody equally. That is a concept neither party seems to take especially seriously. Instead they warp and twist the markets to suit whatever whimsy floats into little under-developed brains.

Tax all people equally, remove all corporate taxes, remove all employer-paid health care and make all health care paid by the consumer, kill SSI, kill quasi-government agencies, return the government to regulating trade, not making trade.

Katrina was not a "mega" storm. The most recent mega-storm to hit that area was Camille in 1969.

House approves offshore drilling
By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The House has voted to allow oil drilling off the nation's Atlantic and Pacific coasts if states agree — but only 50 or more miles out. Republicans called the bill a ruse, saying that's well beyond where most of the estimated 18 billion barrels of oil is located.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill — approved late Tuesday 236-189 — marked "a new direction in energy policy" because of its emphasis on alternative energy.

The bill rolls back $18 billion in oil industry tax breaks and imposes new oil and gas royalties, while giving tax incentives for wind and solar industries and for conservation. Even before the vote, the White House said President Bush would veto it if it passes Congress.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House moved toward a vote Tuesday on whether to allow oil drilling off the nation's Atlantic and Pacific coastlines — but only 50 or more miles out, well beyond where most of the estimated 18 billion barrels of recoverable oil is believed to be located.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the bill "represents a new direction in energy policy" as it also funnels billions of dollars collected from new taxes and royalties on large oil companies to promote alternative fuels and energy efficiency in an attempt to move the country away from fossil fuels.

But Republicans called it a ruse to provide political cover to Democrats feeling pressure to support more drilling at a time of high gas prices and maintained it would not lead to more oil production.

Pelosi, who not long ago characterized Republican demands to lift the ban on offshore drilling a hoax, shifted gears in recent weeks and conceded some drilling measure would have to be part of any energy package.

Expanded offshore drilling has become a mantra of GOP energy policy that has been felt on the presidential and congressional campaign trails, despite wide agreement that lifting the drilling ban — in place for 26 years — would have little if any impact on gasoline prices or produce any oil for years.

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's vowed at the recently concluded GOP convention to push for new offshore oil and gas drilling amid delegate chants of "drill, baby drill" and his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, said he supported more drilling as part of a broader energy package.

The Democrats' bill would allow drilling in waters 50 miles from shore almost everywhere from New England to Washington state as long as a state agrees to go along with energy development off its coast line. Beyond 100 miles, no state approval would be required. The drilling ban would remain in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

But Republicans lashed out at the Democratic concession and accused Pelosi of trying to deceive the public and simply provide cover from Democrats this election year with a vote on offshore drilling.

They cited Interior Department estimates that 88 percent of the 18 billion barrels of oil believed to be in waters now under drilling bans would remain off limits because they are within 50 miles of shore. And they said few states would likely agree to drilling since the bill does not provide states with any of the royalties from the new energy production.

It's a bill "written in the dark of night" that won't do a thing about the supply of energy, said House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio. "It's a hoax on the American people. This is intended for one reason ... so the Democrats can say we voted on energy."

Republican anger punctuated the floor debate as Democrats refused to allow any amendments to the 290-page bill, keeping GOP leaders from to bring up a much broader drilling proposal that would open waters as close as 12 miles from shore if states agree.

Democrats derided what they called Republicans "drill only" response to the country's energy problems.

"America needs an oil change," said Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., "They keep saying on the Republican side, `Drill, baby, drill!' What we're saying is `Change, baby, change!' and they can't change."

Pelosi also garnered the support of oil-state Democrats.

People "can no longer insist that it's my way or the highway" when it comes to energy legislation, said Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas., who often has sided with the oil industry on energy measures, but spoke in support of the legislation.

The Democratic bill also would:

• Roll back $18 billion in tax breaks for the five largest oil companies and requires energy companies to pay billions of dollars in royalties avoided because of an Interior Department contracting error.

_Require the release of oil from the government's Strategic Petroleum Reserve to try to push down gasoline prices.

_Make it a federal crime for oil companies holding federal leases to provide gifts to government employees, a response to a recent sex and drug scandal involving the federal office that oversees the offshore oil royalty program and energy company employees.

_Provide tax credits for wind and solar energy industries, the development of cellulose ethanol and other biofuels.

_Require utilities nationwide to generate 15 percent of their electricity from solar, wind or other alternative energy source.

_Give tax breaks for new energy efficiency programs including the use of improved building codes and for companies that promote their employees use of bicycles for commuting.

Meanwhile the Senate planned to consider its own offshore drilling proposal.

At least three proposals were being developed, including: a Democratic measure calling for limited drilling; a plan crafted by a bipartisan group of 20 senators that would open waters from Virginia to Georgia; and a Republican plan that would lift all of the drilling bans and allow states to permit energy development off their coastlines.

Not saying whether it is right or wrong but look at it this way. One has enough money to buy influence and the other is Mr Nobody at this time. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

.

All the chanting I have heard so far is

" Drill, Drill, Drill "


Have yet to hear

" Multifacated approach to solving our energy problem,
Multifacated approach to solving our energy problem,
Multifacated approach to solving our energy problem"

__________________

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

I will agree with tax all equally.
But corporations are considered people also.

..

Remove health care ?
Kill SSI ?

You will change your mind about those when your wife or child gets seriously ill.



.

__________________

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

I pay for a hell of a good insurance policy for my family.

House Democrats will allow offshore drilling ban to expire
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- After months of high-pitched battles with Republicans over the issue of offshore drilling, House Democrats have given in and decided to allow a 26-year ban on drilling to expire at the end of the month.
A $600 billion funding bill won't include any language on offshore drilling, effectively lifting the ban on October 1.

A $600 billion funding bill won't include any language on offshore drilling, effectively lifting the ban on October 1.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey, D-Wisconsin, told reporters Tuesday that a massive $600 billion stopgap funding bill slated for a House vote on Wednesday will not include any language on drilling, effectively lifting the ban on October 1.

Democrats pushed to add a proposal passed in the House of Representatives last week to open up areas at least 50 miles offshore to drilling if states agree, but the White House objected.

"So that will mean ... this next election will decide what our drilling policy will be because there will be no language in this bill on that subject, and as you know that means that at least temporarily the moratorium is lifted," Obey said.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have seized on offshore oil drilling as a major election-year issue, citing public opinion polls that show a majority of Americans support more offshore drilling.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, had incurred Republican wrath originally for blocking any vote on drilling before allowing a vote on limited drilling earlier this month.

The $600 billion bill will continue government spending at the current level through March 6. Obey said this timeline gives adequate funding for government programs through early next year.

"I don't want that hanging over the head of a new president, whoever he may be, while we're trying to get the new administration off and running," he said.

In addition to keeping government agencies funded through the spring, the package will include $25 billion in loan guarantees for U.S. automakers, $23 billion to $24 billion in disaster aid for flood and hurricane recovery efforts, $2 billion for Pell grants for student loans and $5.2 billion for low-income energy assistance.

Democrats decided to get a vote on this funding measure out of the way but plan to move an economic stimulus package separately. The stimulus package is still being crafted but likely would include an extension of unemployment benefits, food stamps, aid to states for Medicare and Medicaid, and billions for infrastructure programs designed to add more jobs to a slowing economy.

"We will wind up letting the stimulus package rise or fall on its own merits," Obey said.

Obey said he negotiated the funding bill with the White House, adding that "I have every reason to believe they will accept it."

Obey declined to speak for the Senate but indicated Senate Democrats are supportive.

.

Great, now the oil guys will rake in a bunch more cash,
while we loose our houses.

How bad does it have to get before people start thinking ?

Oil will not stop us from going into this depression.

...

Don't fear,,,
There was life before walmart,
there will be life after walmart.

...

Are we the second victom of the cold war ?


RichC

.

__________________

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

Yeeeeeehaaaa.

Maybe it will get bad enough you will start thinking about getting a job in the oil industry.

Awesome. You can now look forward to your 25c per gallon discount 25 years from now. Yeaaaah!

__________________
2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Anywhere.