Democracy and oil

SFGate

The House of Representatives descended into bedlam Friday as Republican leaders kept a five-minute vote open for more than 40 minutes -- and arm-twisted two of their members to switch their votes -- to pass a new energy bill.

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In the final 15 minutes, three GOP votes shifted in favor of the energy bill under pressure from Republican leaders. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who recently stepped down temporarily as majority leader after being indicted in Texas over a campaign finance issue, worked hard on the House floor to convince wavering GOP lawmakers. In the end, 13 moderate Republicans remained opposed.

No Democrats voted yes, although three initially favored it. They changed their minds after talking to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking Democrat.

It seems to me undemocratic to 'arm twist' voters whichever party you belong to.

Republican leaders insisted that Friday's vote was not an abuse of power, and that five-minute votes often run long while party officials round up votes.

It's no longer a 'five-minute vote' when it lasts 'over 40 minutes'.

Delaying a vote does not violate House rules, but lawmakers from both parties have long denounced it as an unfair tactic.

Is it legal to delay a vote by the general public 'while party officials round up votes', say in the presidential elections?

"We use 21 million barrels of oil a day and only have the refinery capacity for 16 million on a good day," Barton said.

So rather than reducing the amount of oil we use, let's just increase it. Who cares what we'll do when there's none left!

The energy bill that passed the House of Representatives by a two-vote margin after a controversial extended vote would:
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Encourage carpooling.

How's it gonna do that?

Here's what Star Telegram has to say on the matter:

Another point of contention: the bill's provision to promote conservation via carpooling instead of by raising the federal government's fuel-economy standards.

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"I think it's a good thing we have tough environmental laws and a good thing we enforce them," Barton said. "But if you were to build a refinery overseas in certain countries, you don't have to do anything environmentally. I don't think that's fair."

So instead of leading by example, we stamp our feet like spoilt kids.


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Meanwhile, the House Committee on Resources will consider the National Energy Supply Diversification and Disruption Prevention Act, a bill that would open up Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for drilling and enable states to permit drilling that is currently prohibited on the Outer Continental Shelf.

It's like stealing your mum so you can get your next smack hit.