Great News!

What happened? I thought this issue was dead? I guess not:

The House, voting 232-187, yesterday approved a bill to end a 25-year-old moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling. The vote came even after the White House surprised the bill's supporters by estimating that the measure's royalty terms would divert "several hundred billion dollars" away from the federal treasury over the next 60 years.

Amid high oil and gas prices, the idea of allowing more offshore oil and gas exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf had widespread support in the House. The measure would let firms drill anywhere within 50 miles of U.S. coastlines, while forcing states that want to keep drilling 100 miles off their own shores to pass legislation every five years. States could also ask the federal government to allow drilling closer.

This seems pretty reasonable, it allows the states to have their say but it also makes them open up their decision for debate which I think is healthy and a good idea. Let them explain to the voters why they won't allow the oil companies to provide them with more oil.

Of course this has to face the Senate where the egomaniacs, who have a presidential complex (they want to save the republic from the evils of ... fill in the blank) will try to block it:

Unlike the House bill, which would open up all U.S. coasts to exploration, the Senate version, which supporters hope will be voted on next month, would open up only 8 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Sources said that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), like most Florida lawmakers a longtime foe of offshore drilling, was also close to agreeing to the Senate compromise.

Stumbling blocks remain. Florida's other senator, Bill Nelson (D), issued a statement last night threatening to block any measure resembling the one approved by the House. "Drilling will destroy the unique environments that are the backbone of the tourism-driven economies of our nation's first- and fourth-largest states," Nelson said.

Senator you are only one of a hundred, remember that.

I'm not sure I like the bribery aspect of this bill but if it means more oil, so be it.