NorthWest Florida Republican

It seems that Speaker Pelosi has had a change of heart on Drilling for more oil.

Hoping to deflate some of the momentum that Republicans have built up over the oil “crisis”, she has proposed bringing it up for a vote.

Dropping her opposition to a vote on coastal oil exploration, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Saturday that the House would consider expanded offshore drilling as part of broad energy legislation when Congress returns next month. - New York Times

Of course this is after her adamant refusal to bring it up for a vote before the break when Republicans asked for it.

There is even some audacity in her statement about bipartisanship.

“We hope our Republican colleagues will join in a bipartisan effort, not only to increase domestic supply, but also to help consumers and to protect the environment,” Ms. Pelosi said in the broadcast.

Yet, part of the proposal that is being drafted would keep Republicans from asking to change the legislation.

Democrats could also impose rules denying Republicans a chance to offer changes to the measure.

What a great way to show bipartisanship. Demand a vote but not allow for changes. Something that this current Congress is great at doing.

While Speaker Pelosi and many other Democrats are great at blaming the current Presidential administration, they need to step back and take a look at their policies as well. The tightening of environmental controls on oil companies has contributed to this much more than any “failed energy policy” of the Bush administration.

Since her election to Congress in 1987, Ms. Pelosi has fought efforts to expand drilling off California and in recent weeks has adamantly refused to entertain a vote on new coastal exploration, saying Republicans were simply trying to shift attention from Bush administration energy policies.

One could actually say that President Bush really didn’t have an “energy policy”. Which is much more than one could say about the Democrats. Even the current Democrat nominee for President is actually more likely to encourage an even bigger “failed energy policy” with increased taxes on all corporations and even more on Oil companies.

The one thing that Speaker Pelosi got right in her entire radio address is that it would bring hundreds or perhaps thousands of jobs to the areas that actually decide to go forward. Of course this is all assuming that they actually get something together that is actually bipartisan.

Floridians worried about offshore drilling should also consider the additional revenue that would be brought in from any oil drilling off the coast. All of the other states to the west of us share in this revenue through taxation. Florida could benefit enormously from these revenues to help bolster our economy and provide better services for some sectors such as Education.

Neither one of our Presidential Candidates are on board with peoples wishes either unfortunately.

This just goes to prove that if you complain long and loud enough, that someone will hear you and change their mind. But I seriously doubt that this will change with Speaker Pelosi’s proposal.