Republicans Defeat Gas Price Relief Bill

Democrats Claimed Releasing 70 Million Barrels Of Oil Would Loosen National Stockpile And Bring Down Prices

(AP)  House Republicans on Thursday scuttled a bill that Democrats hoped would help lower gasoline prices by forcing the Energy Department to release 70 million barrels of oil - about a three-day supply - from the national stockpile.

Democrats promised that the action would have produced immediate relief at the pump, as was the case with similar releases in 1991, 2000 and 2005. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve now holds about 700 million barrels.

Despite winning a clear 268-157 majority, the measure still lost. Democratic leaders had brought the proposal up for debate under rules requiring a two-thirds vote to pass.

But passing the bill by just a majority would have meant allowing Republicans to force a vote on new offshore drilling leases.

"They're hiding from a vote," said GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio. "They're scared to death to allow us to ... force their members to vote on drilling."

Democrats said the release from the oil reserve could provide relief at the pump within two weeks, though they would not say how much it would help $4-per-gallon gas. Earlier releases, such as a 34 million barrel drawdown in 1991 during the Persian Gulf War, caused prices to fall.

As debate began, the White House threatened a veto. "Rather than drawing down a strategic reserve intended to protect our nation's energy security from a severe supply disruption, Congress should pass legislation to increase domestic oil supply," the White House said in a statement.

Across the Capitol, political squabbling promised to doom a Senate bill that would curb the kind of speculation in the oil markets that many people believe is partly responsible for the increases in oil prices.

Republicans appeared unlikely to agree to cut off debate and move the measure to a final vote. They complained that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., had blocked them from offering amendments.

The result of all of the political maneuvering is that Congress will adjourn for a five-week vacation without having passed into law any response to high gas prices since legislation in May that required President Bush to suspend filling the reserve.

Republicans believe they are gaining the political upper hand because of Democrats' refusal to allow new drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf. Democrats said they have not seen any erosion in their standing with voters and say it allows them to cast Republicans as doing the bidding of big oil companies.

"This is an issue that the Republicans have latched onto in the absence of any other issue they have to talk about," said the House's second-ranking Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland. "Not the economy, not Iraq, not foreign policy ... it's the only issue they have."

[pvperson]

All this week the republicans have claimed "they care about americans, look how Bush wants drilling offshore", well this shows what they really think. Bush lifting his father''s executive order was nothing by a political ploy. The don''t want cheaper gas, they''re to deep in the oil companies pockets for that.

[randynason]

So, GOP leader Boehner says the Repugnicans have the Democrats "over a barrel" with regard to the offshore drilling measure. I''d rather bite the bullet, use less gas now and put the screw to the Repugnicans in November. Boy, are those scumbags gonna be surprised when times comes for people who are hurting now to go vote. IT ALWAYS HAD TO DO WITH THE DRILLING. That''s what it was always about.

[cyberus-2009]

If Bush and the GOP was all for more US drilling why did it take 7.5 yrs to bring it up?

Oh ... yeah ... they need to drive up gas prices to try and force the democrats hands.

And now ... they can force the issue and if anything goes wrong they can blame the next administration which is looking more and more like a democratic one.

[afmca]

The Repubs are nothing but criminal con-men. They spent 8 years manipulating the energy markets. Bush has threatened Iran and Venezeulia to keep the speculators prices high. These are treasonous acts and all of the Republican Party should suffer for this. Even Repub stalwart Gingrich is calling for oil to be released from the stockpile; but that is not what Cheney has spent all his time in seclusion to see done. This is the last great handover of America''s energy resources to a corrupt and immoral industry. I would rather sign a lease with China or Venezualia to drill for this oil that Exxon-Mobil.

If Americans spends the same amount of money in subsidies and tax-breaks for alternate sources of energy over the next 10 years instead of giving it to the immoral oil industry, America will be that much better off. We cannot drill ourselves to self-sufficiency, but the oil industry wants to keep America dependent on their drug. The Democrats need to hold off this attempt to give our last reserves to Big Oil and hopefully in November America and the world will have true leaders that will make us energy independent. This will never occur if we let oil lead the way.

[newz4i]

NOTHING is accomplished with a Republican !!! !!! !!! !!!

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING !! !! !!

Vote more out this November.

It''s time for America to accomplish the simple things if life.

YES IT IS !!!!!!!!!!!!

[rudy654-2009]

What the news fails to tell you is that oil export from the US is at and all time high. So much for that oil staying here to benefit Americans. Criminals, everyone of them.

[rwassel]

You mean...the Republicans don''t have middle and lower class Americans in their best interests? Gasp! I''m shocked!

How anyone could be a Republican is beyond me...and I also find it typical of the COSNERVATIVE media to bury this story halfway down the headlines.

[rudy654-2009]

If Americans spends the same amount of money in subsidies and tax-breaks for alternate sources of energy over the next 10 years instead of giving it to the immoral oil industry, America will be that much better off. We cannot drill ourselves to self-sufficiency, but the oil industry wants to keep America dependent on their drug. The Democrats need to hold off this attempt to give our last reserves to Big Oil and hopefully in November America and the world will have true leaders that will make us energy independent. This will never occur if we let oil lead the way.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by afmca at 08:20 PM

Isn''t interesting how we pay for the gas companies through our taxes to turn around and extort more money from us?

[dittomom1]

Those "immoral" oil companies provide every single one of you with the style of life you lead. The industrial revolution was made possible by the oil industry. The car you drive, the plastics we use, the cosmetics you use, the medical innovations, etc, etc. etc. are made possible by the "immoral" oil companies. There is no technology on the horizon that is capable of replacing oil. We have enough oil in this country to allow us to become energy independent. We have the technology to refine it CLEANLY. Oil spills are a matter of nature (google "natural seepage" and "california coast"). Enough oil has been discovered in the arctic to provide 90 billions barrels. We have enough oil in the Bakken Formation in South Dakota. If drilling would put money in the pockets of oil company execs, and gasoline in my car and produce more jobs, and make us energy independent, why would anyone be against that? You are all brain-washed, political morons!

[nothappyatall]

Democrats said the release from the oil reserve could provide relief at the pump within two weeks, though they would not say how much it would help $4-per-gallon gas."

Another STUPID idea, at best the price goes down a few cents for a brief period- that''s a 3 day supply- drop in the bucket!
Meanwhile, that would eventually have to be REPLACED and using what was probably $40 a barrel oil to drop a few cents for a week or two, it will have to be replaced later with $150 a barrel oil, what a freaking STUPID idea!

[fairbalance2]

The Democratic are using this as a smoke screen to hide the fact they don''t want a vote on oil drilling. Everyone is saying this is a Democratic year, but how can you vote for them when they are more beholding to the extreme environmentalist than they are to the needs of American Citizens?

[newview08]

Let''s get off this whole drug addiction thing with regards to oil, it sounds juvenile. Oil is an energy source like any other, and the foundation for our way of life. I don''t break out in a sweat or commit burlary for a gallon of gas the way a heroin addict would. It''s a cheap swipe at the US population to make us feel guilty for owning a car. So just shut-up.

[stn_sage]

Partisan politics rule! EXAMPLES:

RepubliCONS don''t want to work with Democrats or assure Americans have affordable gasoline, so: they vote to defeat the bill!

Democrats don''t want RepubliCONS to get any credit for taking any action (whether it''s good or not), so: they act to see RepubliCONS don''t get a chance to vote on offshore drilling!

Mr. Bush doesn''t want the public to have affordable gas and wants to blame Congress for it so: he criticizes them for not allowing the vote on drilling!

And, so it goes! Our government at it''s worst!

[irliberal]

More republican blocks of any potential of progress. Not surprising. But that will change in November. 8-)

[fstop100]

Americans need to clog the interstate highways and boycott along with the truckers

[l8c6]

Oil spill closes Mississippi river
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:11:02

The Tintomara and the Mel Oliver collided on the Mississippi
A tanker and a barge have collided on the Mississippi river, spilling thousands of gallons of oil resulting in the closure of the waterway.

The accident took place on Wednesday when the 600-foot tanker Tintomara rammed into the 61-foot barge, the Mel Oliver, carrying 9,983 barrels of fuel oil (more than 400,000 gallons) north of the bridges that connect downtown New Orleans to the west bank of the Mississippi.

The double-hulled tanker Tintomara was loaded with about 4.2 million gallons of biodiesel and nearly 1.3 million gallons of styrene, but did not leak, said Michael Wilson, president of ship management company Laurin Maritime (America) Inc.

The tar-like fuel oil spilled from the barge, forming the slick and closing about 47 miles of river, Coast Guard spokeswoman Lt. Cdr. Cheri Ben-Iesau said.

"It''s not the largest spill we''ve ever had, but it''s a large one," said Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality spokesman Rodney Mallett after visiting the scene.

According to local officials, the river could remain closed for several days, and full cleanup could take even weeks.

[timdgrim]

You are all brain-washed, political morons!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by dittomom1
***********************
And you, are a Limbaugh worshipping idiot!
Is that what that old Oxyconton popping right wing fat a** told you to say today while he was thinking for you?

[stn_sage]

What really amazes me, is---with all the problems that Bush and the congressional ''CONS have caused---that in this election year, they remain intransigent, uncaring, and unrepentant for their actions!

Unless they know something the public doesn''t---like they are going to ''rig'' voting machines all across the country to hang onto their seats---they stand to suffer a defeat of historical measure!

This being the case, any SANE party would have worked with the other side this Spring to get legislation passed in order to at least look like they were trying to do their jobs, but not this group of ''CONS!

I''ll be interested to see how many of these defeated ''CONS express surprise when they get ''the boot''!?

[l8c6]

Posted by dittomom1

No ditto Rush Limbaugh leach. The oil was in the earth long before private capitalist profiteers came along and mismanaged one of earths resources on behalf of the God of private profit maximizing.

[l8c6]

Hmm, I wonder if the oil industry is buying up huge government tracks of land in the desert so that they can privatize and monopolize the sun while using taxpayers to build a new power grid and solar collecting towers for them.

[l8c6]

What really amazes me, is---with all the problems that Bush and the congressional ''''CONS have caused---that in this election year, they remain intransigent, uncaring, and unrepentant for their actions!--Posted by stn_sage

That is what defines an anti-social personality disorder. No remorse. Of course it''s these same sociopaths that are more than ready to execute lower functioning sociopaths perhaps in an attempt to atone for their own subhuman deficiencies.

[stn_sage]

how can you vote for them when they are more beholding to the extreme environmentalist than they are to the needs of American Citizens?

Posted by fairbalance2 at 09:28 PM : Jul 24, 200
----------------------
Wrong, my friend! They are not beholden to the ''extreme environmentalist''---as you put it.

1. Because they don''t have a lot of ''extreme DOLLAR$'' to give the Democrats in ''campaign contributions''!

What they do have is a legitimate point: that massive destruction of the environment is not feasible to survival! It''s a pretty persuasive argument!

2. Democrats don''t generally refuse money from oil companies, either! But, they cannot exceed a certain point when it comes to giving oil companies what they want!

[stn_sage]

That is what defines an anti-social personality disorder. No remorse. Of course it''''s these same sociopaths that are more than ready to execute lower functioning sociopaths perhaps in an attempt to atone for their own subhuman deficiencies.

Posted by l8c6 at 10:04 PM : Jul 24, 2008
--------------
I believe a LOT of people would agree with you.
Their actions tend to support your suggestion.

[apprxam]

Don''t mess with than oil reserve. USN need that to attack Iran so that we can take their oil. You know, the oil we were taking from Iraq, but ingrates that they are....they wanna keep it for themselves?

Man....McBush is exhausting to listen to. It''s like DickBush all over again.

[antoniof123]

The Democrats have a way to make the gas prices lower within a very short period of time the GOP wants to keep the prices higher that is what I see.

If you like the high price of gas thank a Republican.

[l8c6]

And that would be a bad thing?


Posted by bullyforhim


Yes, bullies and hypocrites are a bad thing and an abomination in the eyes of God.

[actornaught]

Yeah, nevermind functional relief, the ''pubs only want the ''psychological'' approaches...

[l8c6]

And that would be a bad thing?

Posted by bullyforhim

Yes, that would be a very bad thing if public lands were turned over to private interests for profit. It would result in the ongoing enslavement of most people to the slave owners. It is a bad thing period. It truly is a bad thing and the masses of people need to put an end to the privateers, the antiquated bas*tards who ruled the old european world which this nation WAS NOT FOUNDED ON. Privatization is against democracy.

[vnveteran72]

Lowering Fuel Prices is counter productive to the Neocon Nazi Plan to use them to convince the Dimbulbs to allow drilling rights in every corner of the Nation, including National Parks and Eco-sensitive areas off our Coasts.
These Nazis ain''t stupid, just Criminal and Greedy....

[stn_sage]

dittomom1:

various comments
Posted by dittomom1 at 09:22 PM : Jul 24, 2008
------------------
WOW! Too much to comment on, so I''ll do a couple:

1. The industrial revolution was made possible by a lot MORE than the oil industry!

2. Our style of life is dependent on---to some degree---but NOT determined by big oil!

3. Yes, I agree, at times the oil companies have acted immorally.

4. No, I disagree, there ARE technologies that WILL replace oil.

5. No, we do not have a supply of oil that makes us independent. Ultimately, we run out!

6. Some oil spills are seepage, all the big environmentally damaging ones, were a result
of human neglect!

7. The oil in the Arctic is being claimed by many countries, it''s not ALL ours!

8. You say, ''IF'' drilling would put money in the pockets of oil company execs..., the last
time I looked, oil execs were being paid millions of dollars a year! I''d say they''re doing OK!

9. You insinuate the gains of drilling exceed the losses! I suggest the losses WILL exceed the
any temporary gains achieved!

10. If anyone is brainwashed, political morons---it''s not US! Take care!

Lest we forget..... read closely, this is crucial, it has been posted many, many, times on these boards...

IT''S A DEMOCRAT DO NOTHING CONGRESS!!

sheez....

[irliberal]

IT''''S A DEMOCRAT DO NOTHING CONGRESS!!

sheez....

Posted by hadenough43 at 10:41 P

The republicans blocked the effort by congress you moron. hehe...

[irliberal]

Don''''t you Idiot Liberals know that the Republicans can''''t stop any bill without help from the Democrats.

Posted by dmw1167 at 10:41 P

Wow, you''re a huge moron!

Let''s just go over the numbers one more time:
Senate:
49 republicans
49 democratics
2 independents
tiebreaking vote: republican vice president.

House:
200 Republicans
235 Democratics
288 amount of votes needed for republican presidential veto override.

Whose in control of the congress?

Oh, and thank YOU, republicons, for using the last eight years to destroy our military readiness by involving us in multiple front, pointless foreign wars, destroying the economy, and basically turning the USA into a world-wide laughingstock.

You morons aren''t patriots. You''re traitors. Time for you to go. Your time is over. You''re done.

Time for a change.

The republicans blocked the effort by congress you moron. hehe...

Posted by IRLiberal
----------------
Can you recognize facetiouness when you see it??

[irliberal]

Can you recognize facetiouness when you see it??

Posted by hadenough43 at 10:45 PM

Some of the things the repubs say are so patently ridiculous it''s hard to tell!

[vnveteran72]

Don''t pass ANY Legislation, block it all, until these Neocon Nazis are Purged from our Government in November. In this way, the American people can recieve Legislation designed for their welfare, devoid of Corporate Criminal Entitlements. Wait till November and the Neocon Massacre......

[actornaught]

What''s the current outlook for how many more ''pubs will be voted out of congress this fall?

[vnveteran72]

What''''s the current outlook for how many more ''''pubs will be voted out of congress this fall?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by actornaught at 10:50 PM : Jul 24, 2008
+ report abuse
Even the Criminal Corporate MSM has alluded to at least 15 to 20 seats, but some sources place the figure much higher. I believe the 86% of Americans saying the Nation is going in the wrong direction under the Neocons as a good indication of a possible Blow-Out Massacre of Historical Preportions.

[l8c6]

Don''''''''t you Idiot Liberals know that the Republicans can''''''''t stop any bill without help from the Democrats.

Posted by dmw1167 at 10:41 P

Wow, you''''re a huge moron!

Let''''s just go over the numbers one more time:
Senate:
49 republicans
49 democratics
2 independents
tiebreaking vote: republican vice president.

House:
200 Republicans
235 Democratics
288 amount of votes needed for republican presidential veto override.

Whose in control of the congress?

Oh, and thank YOU, republicons, for using the last eight years to destroy our military readiness by involving us in multiple front, pointless foreign wars, destroying the economy, and basically turning the USA into a world-wide laughingstock.

You morons aren''''t patriots. You''''re traitors. Time for you to go. Your time is over. You''''re done.

Time for a change.

Posted by IRLiberal


Thanks, if our media were for the people and by the people, such truths would be clearly illustrated. But since our media is a pimp/hoe machine it keeps a constant dribble of conflicted babble spewing to the people. The owners of the media may call themselves patriotic americans but they are neither for not bringing news and information clear and transparent for the people of this nation to see. The internet has been their worst nightmare and they are aggressively working to privatize it and control its content. Corporate privatization is un-American and against the interest of democracy.

[danstoned]

Posted by actornaught
Whats the current outlook for how many more ''''pubs will be voted out of congress this fall?

Repigs expected to lose 5 or 6 Senate seats, and 25 - 35 seats in the House. I personally expect 6 or 7 Senate seats, and 45 seats in the House. Until this happens, God will not be blessing America for awhile.

[l8c6]

Don''''t pass ANY Legislation, block it all, until these Neocon Nazis are Purged from our Government in November. In this way, the American people can recieve Legislation designed for their welfare, devoid of Corporate Criminal Entitlements. Wait till November and the Neocon Massacre......

Posted by vnveteran72


We can hope but constitution hating elite oligarchs do not release their power easy and they pay their hoes well.

The republican incumbent senator from my state is up for re-election this year. He''s trotting out that old republican lullaby about how his opponent is a "tax increaser". He desperatly wants everybody to forget that he voted in favor of the Iraq war.
Nobody is.

[o2bewealthy]

So, in essence, the Republicans are holding the American public to ransom in order to coerce the Democrats into approving an off shore oil drilling bill. The answer to this is to get ourselves off oil dependency all together and not be beholden or dependent on either party. It''s too bad there wasn''t enough foresight in this country 110 years ago, when business, transportation, manufacturing, etc all jumped on the petroleum product bandwagon. It was a mistake then - one we''re all paying the price for now.

[l8c6]

. I think if you liberals would stop slinging mud and studied a little you might be able to add and subtract.

Posted by dmw1167

Lieberhoe is not a democrat and the truth is, there are many more like him calling themselves democrat.

Conservatives are conservative with everyone but themselves and many who assign themselves to the right wing ideology will lose in the long run, if not them their children and grandchildren. Republican ideology leads to oligarchy and the old european world of private kingdoms and stifled advancement.

[l8c6]

The board game of monopoly has an end and end the end their is one who "wins". Republicans view the Unites States as a game of monopoly.

The republican answer to our oil dependency problem? Drill for more oil!
The republican answer to environmental problems? Denial!
McCain''s answer to his memory problems around the surge? Obfuscate, obfuscate, obfuscate.

[l8c6]

The board game of monopoly has an end and in the end there is one who "wins". Republicans view the Unites States as a game of monopoly.

[vnveteran72]

It''s hilaaaaaaaaarious watching the Dual-Citizenship Israeli, LIE-berman, following the Senile Pappy McOldshrub around feeding him answers to questions and interupting to correct his Inane Ramblings.....

[l8c6]

McCain sound awful...he doesn''t sound well at all. It''s obvious, the republican party opted to sit this one out. The right wing oligarchs will run their media machine unmercifully against Obama. It will be wise for those seeking the truth to avoid all network and cable news during the Obama years or at least fight to insure there are resources to check it against. Of course the oligarchs are against network neutrality and are attempting to control content. Canadians are already facing a controlled corporate censored internet.

[thepitbull13]

THREE DAY SUPPLY- wow that will make a hugh impact yet you dems clammor at the suggestion of drilling which will pull MUCH more oil than 3 days worth. But securing our future energy independence is not worth it??? Then the clincher of the dems having tax free gas in Denver for 4 MONTHS while they condem the very same thing for the American public. The stratigic oil supply is not for supporting the US popluation to drive with.