Energy Legislation Update

Expect to see more of this in the coming weeks (if the media can manage to stop amplifying lies, that is):

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and other Democratic leaders in the House have outlined a new energy plan that proposes allowing drilling 100 miles off the Atlantic coast and Florida's Gulf coast. The buffer zone could be reduced to 50 miles if a state's governor and legislature consent (which is a big "if"). The plan, which hasn't yet been formally released, also contains increased funding for renewable energy. They're calling it the "Comprehensive American Energy Security & Taxpayer Protection Act," and it includes a number of measures that have stalled previously -- curbing energy speculators, establishing a renewable electricity standard, and repealing subsidies to Big Oil.

Expect this to turn into some partisan gamesmanship, depending on how many Republicans join in:

House Republicans are unlikely to go along with the proposal. Last week, before the Dems officially unveiled anything, House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) made it fairly clear that his party wants its energy bill or no energy bill at all. Yesterday he criticized the Democrats' new plan in a statement: "It leaves most American energy under lock and key when we should be doing everything possible to expand energy production, increase conservation, and promote development of clean, renewable energy. It would permanently lock up 80 percent of our nation's offshore energy resources -- holding hostage billions of barrels of American oil."

I'm really getting sick of these guys (Boehner, etc.) using OCS drilling as a political football. It would have an "insignificant" impact on the world market. What's really important is the other stuff in the bill (how it deals with speculators, how subsidies are allocated, what portfolio standards are proposed, etc.). That's what people should be watching and arguing over.

UPDATE: This is the same Boehner who voted against a Mother's Day resolution in order to stall and delay Congress.

UPDATE II: This is the same Boehner who stacked a global warming committee with Republicans who, as a requirement for committee membership, had to renounce their belief in global warming. Boehner is an obstructionist, plain and simple. That's what he does.That's what he will do when this Energy legislation comes up.

John Boehner (R-OH) on Mother's Day

In a bizarre move, House Republicans have decided to vote against a feel-good resolution supporting Mother's Day. Seriously.

On Wednesday afternoon, the House had just voted, 412 to 0, to pass H. Res. 1113, "Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day," when Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.), rose in protest.

"Mr. Speaker, I move to reconsider the vote," he announced.

Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has two young daughters, moved to table Tiahrt's request, setting up a revote. This time, 178 Republicans cast their votes against mothers.

It has long been the custom to compare a popular piece of legislation to motherhood and apple pie. Evidently, that is no longer the standard. Worse, Republicans are now confronted with a John Kerry-esque predicament: They actually voted for motherhood before they voted against it.

Republicans, unhappy with the Democratic majority, have been using such procedural tactics as this all week to bring the House to a standstill, but the assault on mothers may have gone too far. House Minority Leader John Boehner, asked yesterday to explain why he and 177 of his colleagues switched their votes, answered: "Oh, we just wanted to make sure that everyone was on record in support of Mother's Day."

By voting against it?

I don't get it. Happy Mother's Day, everyone!


UPDATE: Incidentally, H.R. 1113 is titled "Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research Enhancement Act." But that's an entirely different issue.

UPDATE II: This is the same Boehner who stacked a global warming committee with Republicans who, as a requirement for committee membership, had to renounce their belief in global warming. Boehner is an obstructionist, plain and simple. That's what he does.

Boehner Requires Committee Members to Disagree With Mainstream Science View

It appears that Congressman John Boehner (R-OH) made global warming denial a requirement for Republicans seeking appointment to the House global warming committee. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) was apparently not appointed by Boehner precisely for this reason:

"I said, 'John, I can't do that,' " Gilchrest, R-1st-Md., said in an interview. "He said, 'Come on. Do me a favor. I want to help you here.'"

Rep. Roscoe Bartlet (R-MD), a research scientist, was also not appointed. Neither was Rep. Vern Ehlers (R-MI) the first research physicist to serve in Congress.

Instead of appointing actual scientists, or people who refused to take such a stance against the majority of the scientific community, Boehner ultimately chose James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) as the ranking Republican member. Sensenbrenner, who apparently doesn't understand the difference between the words "eminent" and "imminent", made the following statement in a press release:

"Recent fluctuations in the Earth’s climates and temperatures have led to numerous sensational headlines describing an eminent doomsday scenario."

Boehner appears very happy with this appointment:

“I cannot think of a more qualified individual to tackle this complex subject matter and help the Congress craft common sense solutions to this challenge.”