Will Scandal Shake Up Offshore Drilling Bill?

[babylonsister]

Will Scandal Shake Up Offshore Drilling Bill?
by Paul Kiel, ProPublica - September 11, 2008 11:34 am EDT


A series of inspector general reports alleging cocaine use and government regulators literally jumping into bed with Big Oil would make a splash regardless of when it came. But whether it was PR panache on the inspector general's part or a happy coincidence, yesterday's reports came just as Congress is set to debate expanding offshore drilling.

There will be hearings. And Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has argued that "the allegations of illicit and unethical behavior...are directly related to the energy debate taking place in the Congress this week."

The Republicans have been pushing hard for widely expanding domestic offshore drilling in recent months. Yesterday House Democrats put forth a compromise: The plan (still sketchy) would open up the entire U.S. coastline with the exception of Florida's Gulf Coast while offering a host of sweeteners to encourage alternative energy programs. Drilling off a state's coast would require that state to "opt in."

The bill would also, the New York Times reports, "repeal some federal subsidies for oil companies and seek to improve the collection of royalty payments."

Well, about those royalty payments. Yesterday's reports focus on the Minerals Management Service, an Interior Department agency that collects royalties from oil companies drilling on federal land. And while the reports on sex and perks were by far the most colorful, they were the culmination of several critical reports on the chronically troubled office -- troubles that stretch back a decade and show that the coziness between government employees and oil companies has come with a cost.

more...

http://www.propublica.org/article/will-scandal-shake-up-offshore-drilling-bill-911/

[BridgeTheGap]

1. Hell no...it's a reason to party hardier! Imagine the $$$ off shore drilling will provide them! n.t