House Votes for Energy Dependence
Charles Johnson
Fri May 19, 2006 at 9:55 am PDT • Views: 327
What happened to all that strong language about energy independence and the need to wean ourselves from foreign oil, and all that whining about the price of gasoline? When push came to shove, the House voted to continue the offshore drilling ban. Because oil wells are so ugly. (Hat tip: LGF readers.)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Despite talk of an energy crisis and the need for independence from foreign oil, Congress seems to be in no mood to open more of the country’s coastal waters to energy development.
The House late Thursday rejected an attempt to end the quarter-century ban on oil and natural gas drilling that has been in effect for 85 percent of the country’s coastal waters from Alaska to New England despite arguments that new supplies are needed to lower energy costs.
Lawmakers from Florida and California, who led the fight to continue the drilling moratorium, said they feared energy projects as close as three miles from shore could jeopardize multibillion-dollar tourism industries in their states.
“People don’t go to visit the coasts of Florida or the coast of California to watch oil wells,” Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., said.
Frank says: