House Energy Gang In The Works

By Ryan Grim

(The Politico)  A bipartisan pair of House lawmakers will announce on Tuesday the formation of a “working group” that will be made up of roughly ten rank-and-file Democrats and ten Republicans to craft a “comprehensive, environmentally responsible energy plan,” an aide to Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D- Hawaii) tells The Crypt.

Abercrombie is teaming up with Rep. John Peterson (R-Penn.), a leading GOP proponent of increased offshore drilling. The pair has worked together in the past on energy production and worked the House floor today recruiting members to be on the task force.

In exchange for openness to offshore drilling from Democrats, Peterson expressed a willingness “to invest in renewable and alternative forms of energy.” At this point, said the aide, Abercrombie is open to drilling in the outer continental shelf for natural gas; the Democratic position is that the production should be used domestically rather than be sold globally.

“If we remain locked in opposing political positions instead of working together to find real solutions, it will be a death struggle that puts the U.S. economy and our way of life at profound risk, and the country will miss an opportunity to declare energy independence from unstable, overseas supplies,” said Abercrombie in a statement.