It's about time is all I can say

WASHINGTON — Citing hurricane damage to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, key lawmakers are trying to relax a decades-old federal ban on new drilling off California and the Atlantic Seaboard and to encourage energy prospecting in the Rocky Mountains.


Congressional proposals also aim to waive some air pollution rules to encourage expansion of oil refineries and to authorize oil drilling beneath Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"Mother Nature proved just how vulnerable America is to supply disruption," said House Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy). "We must do more to increase and to diversify domestic supplies."

The legislation, likely to be voted on soon in the House, comes as oil- and natural-gas-dependent manufacturers have urged Congress to reopen the "85% of all federally controlled coastal waters [that] are currently off-limits to energy production."

It really sounds good, too bad that we have a bunch of RINO's up there lead by George "Trust ME!" Bush. We all know what'll happen to THIS legislation as soon as the Libs start whining.

Then we get another "sounds good" proposal from them-who-know-better-than-us

High gasoline prices, hurricane-triggered shortages and big refining profits are fueling a push to build the nation's first new oil refinery in 30 years.

The same forces are also triggering renewed efforts in Congress to give incentives and regulatory breaks to companies that expand their plants to produce more gasoline and diesel and jet fuel.

What's driving these efforts is that fuel production from U.S. refineries has not kept pace with the demand from a rebounding economy. The result has been painful price surges for consumers, truckers and airlines.

You have your usual special intrests on both sides, but in Fla. even Georges brother
doesn't want his state to benefit from inexpensive energy. Being the second half of the "Compassionate Conservative" duo, Jeb wants cheap energy without having to help pull the load.

I'm really getting tired of "politica-as-usual" and getting shafted every time I fill up.

(UPDATE 1-07-05 I guess Jeb is as consistant as his brother, he's now agreed to allow drilling off his coast)