You knew it was just a matter of time -
this from the L.A. Times today:
Citing hurricane damage to the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico, key lawmakers are trying to relax a decades-old federal ban on new drilling off California and the Atlantic Seaboard and to encourage energy prospecting in the Rocky Mountains.
More below the fold . . .
Congressional proposals also aim to waive some air pollution rules to encourage expansion of oil refineries and to authorize oil drilling beneath Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
"Mother Nature proved just how vulnerable America is to supply disruption," said House Resources Committee Chairman Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy). "We must do more to increase and to diversify domestic supplies."
The legislation, likely to be voted on soon in the House, comes as oil- and natural-gas-dependent manufacturers have urged Congress to reopen the "85% of all federally controlled coastal waters [that] are currently off-limits to energy production."
I love how Pombo has the chutzpah to invoke "Mother Nature" in his call to action - for Repuglicans of his ilk, Mother Nature is just another MILF.
Reminds me of this story from The Onion after Bush took office. Who'da thunk?
Be sure to write to your representatives . . .