The Energy Bill is Not a Sham
You may disagree with a bill, you may believe it doesn’t stand a chance of passing, but that doesn’t make it a sham.
“I cannot support a bill that offers such limited new drilling options while passing on mandates that could also burden folks with even higher utility bills,” [Rep. Mike Rogers R-AL] said. “This bill is, quite simply, a political sham.”
Everett, R-Rehobeth, also said the bill was not likely to produce much new oil and not likely to be approved by the Senate.
The House bill is different than a Senate version and probably won’t pass Congress in the few weeks remaining in the session.
Here are the details of the House bill:
# It allows states to propose oil and natural gas drilling 50 or 100 miles off their coast, and drilling on land for shale oil in some Rocky Mountain states.
# Requires power companies to produce 15 percent of their electricity from wind, solar and other green power by 2020.
# Offers tax credits for the purchase of plug-in hybrid electric cars and to make homes more energy efficient.
# Amends leases granted to oil companies in the late 1990s to require them to pay royalties for drilling on federal lands.
# Renews tax credits for solar, wind and other renewable power producers.
I do have a problem with how Pelosi and the Democratic leadership came up with this bill and the way it is being brought to the floor, but I do believe it’s an attempt at trying to allow more offshore drilling while also adding incentives for alternative energy. It’s a shame that it’s become next to impossible for Democrats and Republicans in the House to work together on such a proposal, there is fault on both sides for that.
Rogers says energy bill ‘political sham’ | montgomeryadvertiser.com | Montgomery Advertiser.