Long overdue since we have needed new oil production refineries for the past 25 years as the existing facilities are not capable of tapping the potential production that is available. Two big issues still to overcome are: 1) where to build these new refineries since many communities will be against having one built in their towns due to large parts per millions of emissions of benzene, h2s etc..that are a direct result of the refining process. 2) While this is a good temporary step we need to again become aggresive in pursuing other alternative options such as nuke power and a vastly undertapped hydropower.
WASHINGTON - The House, by a two-vote margin, is sending the Senate legislation to encourage oil companies to open new refineries.
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Approval came Friday only after leaders of the Republican majority extended the vote by 40 minutes to buttonhole colleagues, prompting calls of "Shame, Shame" from Democrats.
The bill, passed 212-210, would streamline government permits for refineries and open federal lands including closed military bases for future refinery construction.
It also would limit the number of gasoline blends refiners must produce, eliminating many blends now designed to reduce air pollution.
But Democrats, joined by some GOP moderates, called the bill a sop to rich oil companies that would do nothing to ease energy costs that include heating bills expected to soar this winter.
President Bush welcomed the outcome. "I commend the House for passing legislation that would increase our refining capacity and help address the cost of gasoline, diesel fuels and jet fuels," he said in a statement.
It looked as if the bill was headed to defeat, two votes shy of approval. Democrats called in vain for gaveling the vote closed as GOP leaders lobbied their members to switch votes and support the bill.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., "worked me over a little," said Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., among the last group of lawmakers to switch to support the legislation.
Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who recently stepped down temporarily as majority leader after being indicted in Texas over a campaign finance issue, was as active as ever, putting pressure on wavering lawmakers in the crowded, noisy House chamber.
Finally, long after the vote had been scheduled to close, two Republican members switched, providing the victory. A tie would have killed the bill.
Afterward, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California called it all "a shameless display of the Republican culture of corruption," a theme she has used in recent days on a number of issues since DeLay's indictment.
Rep. Joe Barton (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, said he was not aware of "any deals" being made to get the last votes. No Democrats voted for the legislation, although three initially favored it, only to change their minds after talking to Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record) of Maryland, the second-ranking Democrat.
Supporters of the measure said hurricanes Katrina and Rita made clear that the country needed more refineries, including new ones outside the Gulf region. No new refinery has been built since 1976, although large refineries have been expanded to meet growing demand.
Critics of the legislation argued that a cash-rich industry with huge profits over the past year shouldn't need government help to build refineries. They said the bill would allow the oil industry to avoid environmental regulations and would lead to dirtier air.
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The bill number is H.R. 3893.
WASHINGTON - The House, by a two-vote margin, is sending the Senate legislation to encourage oil companies to open new refineries.
ADVERTISEMENT
Approval came Friday only after leaders of the Republican majority extended the vote by 40 minutes to buttonhole colleagues, prompting calls of "Shame, Shame" from Democrats.
The bill, passed 212-210, would streamline government permits for refineries and open federal lands including closed military bases for future refinery construction.
It also would limit the number of gasoline blends refiners must produce, eliminating many blends now designed to reduce air pollution.
But Democrats, joined by some GOP moderates, called the bill a sop to rich oil companies that would do nothing to ease energy costs that include heating bills expected to soar this winter.
President Bush welcomed the outcome. "I commend the House for passing legislation that would increase our refining capacity and help address the cost of gasoline, diesel fuels and jet fuels," he said in a statement.
It looked as if the bill was headed to defeat, two votes shy of approval. Democrats called in vain for gaveling the vote closed as GOP leaders lobbied their members to switch votes and support the bill.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., "worked me over a little," said Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., among the last group of lawmakers to switch to support the legislation.
Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who recently stepped down temporarily as majority leader after being indicted in Texas over a campaign finance issue, was as active as ever, putting pressure on wavering lawmakers in the crowded, noisy House chamber.
Finally, long after the vote had been scheduled to close, two Republican members switched, providing the victory. A tie would have killed the bill.
Afterward, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California called it all "a shameless display of the Republican culture of corruption," a theme she has used in recent days on a number of issues since DeLay's indictment.
Rep. Joe Barton (news, bio, voting record), R-Texas, said he was not aware of "any deals" being made to get the last votes. No Democrats voted for the legislation, although three initially favored it, only to change their minds after talking to Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record) of Maryland, the second-ranking Democrat.
Supporters of the measure said hurricanes Katrina and Rita made clear that the country needed more refineries, including new ones outside the Gulf region. No new refinery has been built since 1976, although large refineries have been expanded to meet growing demand.
Critics of the legislation argued that a cash-rich industry with huge profits over the past year shouldn't need government help to build refineries. They said the bill would allow the oil industry to avoid environmental regulations and would lead to dirtier air.
___
The bill number is H.R. 3893.
