Friday, April 22, 2005
Souuuueeeee!
House passes pork-laden energy bill
The House of Representatives approved broad energy legislation yesterday by a vote of 249 to 183. The 1,000-plus-page bill contains some $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for energy companies, less than 5 percent of which go to clean energy or energy conservation. It contains a provision that would funnel $2 billion to deep-water oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. It would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. It would allow "downwind" states to delay meeting air-quality standards until "upwind" states have met them. And it would protect from liability lawsuits the makers of MTBE, a fuel additive that has contaminated some 1,800 community water systems in 29 states, with projected clean-up costs of $29 billion. All of these measures, say critics, pad the pocketbooks of large political contributors but do next to nothing to solve the country's long-term energy problems or current high gas prices. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Joe Barton (R-Texas) was philosophical: "well, isn't something better than nothing?" The bill's fate in the Senate is uncertain, but a supportive Bush administration is optimistic.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Carl Hulse, 21 Apr 2005
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Justin Blum, 22 Apr 2005
straight to the source: USA Today, Associated Press, 21 Apr 2005
from daily grist http://www.grist.org/news/daily/2005/04/22/
I thought Will would like this one.
The House of Representatives approved broad energy legislation yesterday by a vote of 249 to 183. The 1,000-plus-page bill contains some $12 billion in tax breaks and subsidies for energy companies, less than 5 percent of which go to clean energy or energy conservation. It contains a provision that would funnel $2 billion to deep-water oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. It would open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. It would allow "downwind" states to delay meeting air-quality standards until "upwind" states have met them. And it would protect from liability lawsuits the makers of MTBE, a fuel additive that has contaminated some 1,800 community water systems in 29 states, with projected clean-up costs of $29 billion. All of these measures, say critics, pad the pocketbooks of large political contributors but do next to nothing to solve the country's long-term energy problems or current high gas prices. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Joe Barton (R-Texas) was philosophical: "well, isn't something better than nothing?" The bill's fate in the Senate is uncertain, but a supportive Bush administration is optimistic.
straight to the source: The New York Times, Carl Hulse, 21 Apr 2005
straight to the source: The Washington Post, Justin Blum, 22 Apr 2005
straight to the source: USA Today, Associated Press, 21 Apr 2005
from daily grist http://www.grist.org/news/daily/2005/04/22/
I thought Will would like this one.
Comments:
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I'm pretty sure that Charlie Bass was the only New England Rep to vote in favor of this bill.
# posted by 
: 11:38 PM
: 11:38 PM
1 republican from connecticut voted for it. And Charlie "Party Toad" Bass. There were also some republicans from New York that voted for it... thanks to Representative Jarvis Adams [see Will's post] I am not sure if that is part of new england or not...
What a weasel that Bass guy is. Given the lawsuits NH has going about MTBE, especially. Jeb Bradley was kinda trying to cover for him this morning at the Eaton town hall meeting - but it didn't sound very convincing. So, screw the taxpayers, screw the water, as long as I get my committee chair??
We need to kick this guy out on his Bass.
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We need to kick this guy out on his Bass.
# posted by : 4:59 PM
: 4:59 PM< Home
