As if Fracking Weren't Bad Enough

US House Republicans Move To Expand Oil Drilling

by  Dow Jones Newswires

Tennille Tracy   

[Editorial Emphasis Added to Express Outrage]

WASHINGTON - House Republicans are pushing a plan to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and several other areas currently considered off-limits to energy production, stapling the measures to a massive transportation bill expected to move through the House.

The House Natural Resources Committee Wednesday passed a trio of bills directing the government to allow drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans--where leases aren't currently offered--and open up a chunk of the Arctic refuge to drilling. The bills also pave the way for oil-shale development in western states.

The bills will be attached to a measure endorsed by House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) that authorizes $260 billion over five years to fund federal highway and transit programs. Republicans say the revenue from expanded oil production will help pay for the transportation projects.

The House is likely to approve the package in the near future, marking a win for the oil-and-gas industry that urges greater access to U.S. lands and waters. The fate of the legislation in the Senate is less clear, however, given the Democrats' control of that chamber.

[...]

Among the most-controversial bills approved by the committee Wednesday is a measure that allows drilling on a 3% chunk of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The measure passed by a vote of 29-13.

Rep. Don Young (R), the sole representative from Alaska, long has pushed for oil production in the refuge and said it would be a "foolish mistake" to ignore the oil resources under the refuge.[...]

The committee also passed a bill by a vote of 25-19 compelling the Obama administration to allow drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A formal moratorium on drilling in the areas was lifted in 2008, however, many state governments continue to oppose oil production off their coasts. The Obama administration maintained a years-long ban on the Atlantic and Pacific when it proposed a five-year plan for offshore-oil drilling late last year.

Republicans have passed multiple pieces of legislation to expedite or expand U.S. oil production, asserting the energy industry is a source of jobs in a weak economy. But the legislation fizzles once it hits the Senate.

Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

Disappointment of a Fantasy Destroyed

I was hoping the President would suddenly slap his hand on the table and say "No Deal!"  My private scenario went on to invoking the 14th Amendment while bringing home the troops as a cost reduction to satisfy the right wing innumeracy.  Then we would wait for the wealthy to start hiring again, since the poor certainly can't. Oh yeah, and my bedmate was looking for the GOP to attempt to impeach the President and guarantee an Obama 2012 Re-election.

Once Again: 

Elephant at Worlds End

If this makes you feel anxious and insecure...It Should.

Too Funny to Not Promote

Huntsman blames slow start on 'dog days of August'--That is the headline all over the media.  Ahem. The canned AP article does not point out that August doesn't begin for another 6 days.

Huntsman blames slow start on 'dog days of August'

By Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman is blaming his slow start on "the dog days of August," saying he'll do better when the election season hits high gear.

Asked about relatively poor polling numbers, the former Utah governor replied, "If the election were next month, I guess that would be a cause for concern."
Huntsman told CBS's "The Early Show" that "it's going to take a little while" to hone his message of "moving this country to a position of competitiveness and job creation." He said "we've got a terrific presence in the early states" and said that he expects an even stronger organization on the ground by this fall.

Huntsman was the choice of just 4 percent of the respondents in a recent Suffolk University poll in New Hampshire.  (AP FILE PHOTO - June 21, 2011)

Damn but Rosa's good!

Rosa DeLauro, literally, In.The.House:

We are not here to represent the interests of Wall Street banks, predatory mortgage lenders and credit card companies as my Republican colleagues are choosing to do by smothering this new agency in its crib. We are here to represent the American people, and that is what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is designed to do. 

Full text of kick-ass remarks shown below the fold.

Republican Presidential Debate New Hampshire 6-13-11

#ThisOrThat tweets you may have missed:

• Tiffany's or having your own diamond mine?
• Haldol or Thorazine?
• Never smell again or have to walk backwards when the sun goes down?
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• During the zombie apocalypse, do you go with the CDC guide, or a sawed-off shotgun?
• New moderator for #CNNdebate: Snookie or a 5th grader?

and

• I dont think Ron #Paul knows what either a BlackBerry or iPhone is. A better question would have been 8 track or vinyl?