Sept. 18
The debate now moves to the Senate over a Democratic proposal to allow
increased oil and gas drilling in some offshore areas as the House approved
the measure along mostly party lines Sept. 16.
The House voted 236-189 to allow oil and gas exploration and drilling 100
miles or more off both coasts. In addition, oil companies could drill
between 50 and 100 miles offshore if they received state permission.
In return, Democrats want increased funding for alternative energy and
requirements for increased energy conservation. Democrats also want to
collect royalties from oil companies drilling on public lands and to repeal
tax subsidies for the nationīs largest oil companies. About 70 percent of
the leases granted in 1998 and 1999 for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
included royalty waivers, costing American taxpayers about $15 billion,
according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Republicans denounced the Democratic proposal, calling it a hoax that only
appears to increase oil drilling. They argued the measure would permanently
lock up oil on all land within 50 miles of shore.
They also said states are unlikely to allow drilling within 50- to 100-miles
of their shore because the bill does not include any type of revenue sharing
with the states for royalties paid by the oil companies.
Contact Waste News senior reporter Bruce Geiselman at (330) 865-6172 or
bgeiselman@crain.com
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