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Washington: Sparks to fly as Congress delves into energy

By: Herman Wang
(Contact)

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Lincoln Davis
Zach Wamp

WASHINGTON — Congress this week tackles energy with heated floor debates expected in the House and Senate as Democratic leaders walk a tightrope between oil-drilling opponents of their party and pro-production centrists and Republicans.

“It is my hope that drilling will be allowed in all 50 states and the outer continental shelf,” said Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., one of about 40 Democrats in the House who favor more oil production.

But, he said, the Republicans who have turned the energy debate into a drilling versus no drilling issue are being shortsighted.

“There’s almost an attitude of insanity from folks who don’t know the real facts,” Rep. Davis said. “I’m for drilling, but if we started tomorrow, it wouldn’t solve the problem. What we have to do is look at all the different options.”

Tennessee and Georgia Republicans say they, too, are in favor of so-called “all of the above” solutions that include drilling, as well as investing In alternative fuels and energy.

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., said Democrats are in retreat over energy, with public opinion polls showing most Americans in favor of expanded drilling.

“I don’t think they’re going to get much support from our side if they come up with a lame, half-hearted package that’s only designed to get them out of town,” Rep. Wamp said.

As of Friday afternoon, House Democratic leaders had not yet unveiled the final draft of the bill that will come to the floor this week, but aides say it will include some limited drilling provisions in an attempt to garner support from moderate Democrats and Republicans.

It also likely will repeal tax breaks enjoyed by oil companies and require utilities to generate a significant percentage of their electricity from renewable sources.

Republicans have offered their own bill that includes a total lifting of the offshore drilling moratorium. It also opens up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration, which they say is necessary to help the country become less dependent on foreign oil. In addition, the bill wants investment in nuclear power, which is opposed by many environmentalists.

Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., said the Democratic bill likely won’t go far enough to satisfy Republicans. Several Democratic energy bills that pointedly did not include any drilling provisions failed to pass in July.

“(Democrats) have this abhorrence of anything that is carbon-based,” Rep. Deal said. “They are obviously trying to put in as many goodies in (the bill) to attract as many votes as they can, and most of the time that leads to bad policy.”

A compromise bipartisan bill backed by Reps. Davis and Wamp is also in the mix. That bill includes more expansive offshore drilling provisions and several tax credits and incentives for renewable energy.

SENATE BATTLES EXPECTED

Meanwhile, in the Senate, members of the original “Gang of 10,” including Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., who introduced a bipartisan energy package, say they are gaining momentum.

Twenty senators — 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans — have signed on in support of the package, which would allow limited offshore drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic coasts of four states, including Georgia.

It also repeals some oil industry tax breaks, invests in nuclear energy and extends tax incentives for renewable energy.

“The public is very excited there’s a group of people trying to put together a comprehensive plan,” Sen. Isakson said. “There obviously are political overtones in Washington that run counter to that belief. There’s no question there are detractors that would rather us not get to the floor.”

With just two weeks left before Congress is scheduled to adjourn for the year, lawmakers acknowledge that an energy bill may not pass this year.

“I understand what we’re up against and that there’s a strong desire by many to keep the issue alive until after November,” Sen. Corker said. “But even if it doesn’t become law this year, what we have done is crafted a balanced bill that focuses on conservation and production.”

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