Democrats Preparing to Cave on Drilling?

According to Jared Allen at The Hill, Republicans are claiming their month-long floor protest during the summer recess has "changed the terms of the debate" on removing the 27-year ban on most off-shore drilling.

Republican Conference Chairman Rep. Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) said, "The likelihood of having a vote is greater today that it was prior to us engaging in this month-long process."

A total of 136 Republicans turned a spontaneous effort to give floor speeches on gas prices and energy after Congress adjourned for the August recess into a month-long "speak-in" on the House floor. Throughout the protest, Republicans repeatedly brought constituents down to the House floor in an effort to connect with them directly.

"People now better understand that House Republicans are still on offense on the energy issues," Putnam said....

Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the effectiveness of the protest, labeling it a "sideshow ... to demonstrate their loyalty to Big Oil."

However much influence the floor stunt actually had, The Hill also reported that House Democrats now plan to yield at least somewhat on offshore drilling.

Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman John Larson (Conn.) said the majority is prepared to back "responsible" offshore drilling through a bill that could be brought to the floor as early as [this] week.

But the Democratic energy bill will also include past provisions pushed by the party – but that failed to pass the House with the two-thirds majority required under the procedural rules that Democrats chose to use – including the "use it or lose it" provision and a release of oil from the strategic reserve.

"We will consider responsibly opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling while demanding that Big Oil companies use the leases they have already been issued or return them to the public," Larson said Saturday in the Democratic response to the President’s radio address.

The Democrats previously attempted on two occasions to pass "use or lose it" legislation that would have required oil companies to drill on 68 million acres of undrilled public land they already lease or surrender them back to the government.

Exactly what kind of ultimate compromise will come about may depend on what the so-called "Gang of 10" proposes. The gang's five Republicans and five moderate-to-conservative Democrats have been working since July on a comprehensive energy proposal that would include more off-shore drilling as well as provisions to spur development and use of renewable power sources, efficient vehicles, and nuclear power.