Window on Washington
News, analysis, color and photography from Cox Newspapers' Washington BureauRSS feed
What's on this page →
The entry titled "Oil politics not always smooth for GOP," and any of the comments about it.
Categories
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS | |
| RSS |
Commenting is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. M-F
Recent entries
Home > Window on Washington > Archives > 2008 > August > 12 > Entry
Oil politics not always smooth for GOP
The House Republican effort to embarrass Democrats who oppose offshore drilling for oil has gotten a little, well, sticky for the GOP.
Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland jetted back to the capital Wednesday to lead the daily Republican chorus demanding that House Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi call the members back from recess and vote on an energy bill. But Westmoreland also had words for the two Georgia Republican senators, who have been consorting with Democrats on a compromise energy plan.
“I think it’s given the Democrats a place to hide—some cover,” Westmoreland complained of the so-called “Gang of Ten” senators, who include Georgians Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss. Their plan doesn’t go far enough on drilling, the congressman said.
Westmoreland stopped short of remarks made by fellow Georgia Republican Rep. Phil Gingrey, who last week dismissed the Senate Gang of Ten’s energy compromise as “procedural pleasantries.”
But it turns out that Gingrey has joined a bipartisan efforts, too. He is one of the more than 100 cosponsors of a House “compromise” energy plan (HR 6709) that would allow drilling offshore but not in ANWR, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Asked about the House compromise, Gingrey defended it as a “giant step forward” in ending offshore drilling bans, even if it doesn’t include ANWR. “I am proud to join Republicans and Democrats alike in advancing this debate.”
And how’s that different from the “Gang of Ten” in the Senate? Gingrey’s staff didn’t say except to cite summaries suggesting the House compromise bill is broader.
Comments