Senate Republicans pushing for more drilling

**Midnight Mike** · 07-24-2008, 10:03 AM

Senate GOP hands Dems oil ultimatum

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/sen ... 07-23.html

07/23/08 07:43 PM [ET]
Senate Republicans have threatened to block nearly all other bills pending before the August recess if Democrats refuse to vote with them on expanding offshore drilling.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said bills that do not pertain to energy can wait until after the August recess, with gas prices now surpassing $4 per gallon. McConnell and top Republicans indicated Wednesday they would oppose any procedural votes to take up other legislation, which require 60 votes to succeed.

“We think there is nothing more important that we can do right now than to deal with the Number One issue of the country,” McConnell said. “This is the biggest issue since terrorism right after 9/11. People are pounding on their desks, saying, Why don’t these people get together and do something about this problem?”

The hardball tactics reflect Republican confidence that they can pull off a major election-year victory with gas prices at record highs, after they have been battered at the polls and have lost on several recent high-profile legislative battles.

Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) planned for the Senate this week to pass a bill targeting market speculation on oil futures, which both sides blame for playing a role in driving up gasoline prices.

**T-Bird76** · 07-24-2008, 10:29 AM

The Senate Dems better understand that if they roadblock this, the perception in Nov will be they didn't help out with the price of energy. Regardless of how this effects the price of oil down the road the perception will be very negative for the Dems if they don't support this.

**Midnight Mike** · 07-24-2008, 08:59 PM

Originally Posted by T-Bird76

The Senate Dems better understand that if they roadblock this, the perception in Nov will be they didn't help out with the price of energy. Regardless of how this effects the price of oil down the road the perception will be very negative for the Dems if they don't support this.

The Senate Dems had better get their act together on an energy policy, their policy of doing nothing will only work for so long. eventually you have to stand for something, rather than being against everything.