Spill Bill Vote Delayed By Senators

Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Tuesday that the Senate will postpone the vote on energy and oil spill legislation until lawmakers return from August recess. He called it a "sad day," saying Democrats have been unable to muster support for the bill from even a "handful" of Republicans.

Also on hand were Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), and John Kerry (D-Mass.), who said the legislation will hold BP accountable and create green jobs for an economy in need. Democrats have already had to significantly scale back the more comprehensive energy proposal that they were hoping for, which included a cap on carbon emissions.

The senators blamed partisan politics for the legislative inertia, with Boxer insisting Democrats should only need a majority -- not a super majority -- to pass legislation.

"We tried jujitsu, we tried yoga, we tried everything we could to get Republicans to come along," Reid said.

Republicans are circulating an alternative bill and many critics have taken issue with lifting the $75-million liability cap on oil companies.

Oil industry allies Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) both said they oppose the liability cap provision and Republicans argue it would make it financially impossible for small and mid-sized companies to afford the insurance necessary to operate in the Gulf of Mexico.

"It's a terrible disappointment..." said Reid. "But we are going to continue fighting for energy legislation." Reid said he will resume negotiations in September and vowed to pass an energy bill this Congress.

The House narrowly passed its spill bill on Friday, 209-193.

Comments

[tiredoldsteelworker]

11:25 AM on 08/04/2010

Why aren't I surprised to see Boxer's name in this article? She lives in a state that is losing jobs everyday due to AB32 and she is clueless. This woman has got to go. I would venture a guess that she doesn't even know there is a proposition on the ballot to put AB32 on hold.

[anticapitalist1983]

11:21 AM on 08/04/2010

Everyone who wants to hear voices straight from the gulf should check out "the raging pelican" at http://ragingpelican.wordpress.com/
Thanks, and geaux saints!

[AFunkyDem]

11:12 AM on 08/04/2010

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A REPUBLIBAGGER WHEN...

You didn't get mad when:

* SCOTUS stopped a legal recount and appointed a President
* Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy
* A covert CIA operative got outed
* The Patriot Act got passed
* We illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us
* We spent over 1 trillion(and counting) on on illegal war
* 10 billion dollars just disappeared in Iraq.
* You saw the Abu Grahib photos.
* You found out we were t.orturing people.
* The national debt doubled under the previous President from $5.674
Trillion to $10.024 Trillion.
* You saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.
* We let a major US city drown!
* The deficit hit the Trillion dollar mark.

You finally got mad when :

* The government decided that people in America deserved the right to
see a doctor if they are sick
* The government tried to create jobs ( and did! )
* The government tried to save the economy ( and especially when they
did)
* The government tried to protect the consumer from banks and CC
companies
* The government tried to give basic equality to ALL of it's citizens
* The governement tried to function for the people and not just rich
white guys
* The government was being run by an intelligent and brillant BLACK
leader (.) period

Republibaggers ...Hypocrisy art thou

Regards,
Funky --

[nirek]

11:15 AM on 08/04/2010

Awesome post again , Funly!
Faved!
AGAIN!

[Kiffanik]

11:25 AM on 08/04/2010

Fanned and Faved! You should post this everywhere!

[1jdgriff]

11:09 AM on 08/04/2010

Is there anyone, anyone who is surprised by the GOP tactic of delay? Is there anyone who is surprised they are in bed with the oil companies?

It is clear the one and only game plan of the GOP is to block everything the Dems and Obama try to put forth. They have offered no solutions, and to use a football metaphor, they are running interference for big business.

[babyboomerorig]

11:04 AM on 08/04/2010

How many of the members of Congress are sitting on natural disasters? BP wasn't natural, but neither is the one in MI and remember the coal sludge dam that burst a couple of years ago? KY or TN?? That one will never be cleaned up and has cost lives, fields, animals, etc.

They've gone so far beyond reason that they'll probably never be able to function again in life.

[nirek]

11:21 AM on 08/04/2010

You bring to light more than just the Gulf. Thanks for the reminder, these things are reason enough to go all out and put solar and windmills everywhere we can and get EVs up and running at reasonable costs!

Renewable energy is the only way we can get off oil. To a lesser degree we could use reformulated nuclear plants but they cost so much and there is always the danger of meltdowns that will render the land uninhabitable !

Regards
Nirek

[leftword]

10:54 AM on 08/04/2010

When are the Democrats going to learn? The Republicans have one and only one goal: to make the Obama administration fail in every possible way. If this means damaging the environment, prolonging the financial mess, keeping us locked into fossil fuels, exporting more jobs overseas and so on, then so be it.

The Dems should hold the Republicans' feet to the fire. Make them filibuster on each and every issue. And for God's sake, stop surrendering!!!!

[nirek]

11:24 AM on 08/04/2010

Fanned and faved for standing strong!
We need to make them stand there and talk. When they pass out VOTE!

Harry should break out the cots and cancel their August recess, too!

[fuegoski]

01:11 PM on 08/04/2010

its pathetic how the GOP considers themself true american when their actions shows other wise.
And how they sit there..(damaging the environment, prolonging the financial mess, keeping us locked into fossil fuels, exporting more jobs overseas ) and just watch the american PPL suffer.
thats more anit-american to me but again not everybody is cautious minded :(

[BLACKCAT66]

10:51 AM on 08/04/2010

Big surprise! If its to benefit the people, country or enviornment while under this administration then the useless repugs want to stall, delay, destroy. Thats been their priorities since 2008, screw the country get back into power. Why would anyone reward them for this treasonous behavior by voting for them in Nov??

[nirek]

11:29 AM on 08/04/2010

I plan to vote against every republican and talk to as many people as possible to convince them that it is in their best interest to VOTE for the democrats running.

[fluffhead123]

10:41 AM on 08/04/2010

Republicans will not be happy unless they can block everything Democrats and President Obama suggest, then in November they can tell the American people, "Just look, these guys are unable to govern." It's all about politics!

[CAHertzfe]

10:34 AM on 08/04/2010

If these small and medium companies can't afford the insurance to play with the big boys.... then they don't play in the sand box. They move to sand box suited to their capabilities.

[Progressive Dem]

12:14 PM on 08/04/2010

Quote: If these small and medium companies can't afford the insurance to play with the big boys.... then they don't play in the sand box. They move to sand box suited to their capabilities.

I believe that was the point of the HCR bill. Suplimented Insurance. Small Buisness would hate that idea right?

Take those jobs over sea's then .. as long as YOUR returning product is fairly tariffed as a "Foreign Product" I'm game.

[CAHertzfe]

03:00 PM on 08/04/2010

huh?

You would rather a small company to do what BP did and not have the technology to drill safely, be prepared for disasters or the financial protection to clean it up. Now that is smart! Where is that stup!d button on here?

[ThatsTheTheWayItIs]

10:23 AM on 08/04/2010

Unlike health and financial reform, this bill really is a waste of time, worse than nothing.

Dems should just drop it, try to pass a real energy bill in the "lame-duck" session.

[Viper]

10:29 AM on 08/04/2010

The plan is to pass this part now and the rest in lame duck session..

Its noice energy price under Repugs with both houses prior to 2007 increase almost 400%.. they do nothing... well we did have the Dick Cheeny secret energy plan in 2001 and when they had the taliban visit the WH... well we know what the secret is... lets screw the middleclass, wipe out the RV business, the boat business, airlines, auto inustry and tourism! Cuase the cost of everything to soar, so the FEDs have an inflation problem and raise interest rates so all those variable and subprime loans start paying big bucks to wallstreet...oops, you say that carshed the housing market and people could not pay, Oh well time to bailout Wallstreet...

Regards

[Progressive Dem]

12:17 PM on 08/04/2010

A comprehensive Energy Bill has already been written. Its collecting "DUST" in the Senate as we speak.

60 vote Majority rules the day still.

This suplimental bill will @ least assign some realistic laws and penalties to the Robber Barons going under the guise of BP Inernational.

[EthicalJournalist]

10:02 AM on 08/04/2010

"We tried jujitsu, we tried yoga, we tried everything we could to get Republicans to come along," Reid said.

I'll bet they haven't tried sticking pins into dolls that look like the GOP. Never mind; The pins probably wouldn't work because I understand voodoo only works on sentient beings.

[dax49]

09:59 AM on 08/04/2010

DUH-small oil companies can't afford deep water drilling anyway- has anybody addressed that!

[Progressive Dem]

10:18 AM on 08/04/2010

Yea .. you must be talking about all the Mom and Pop owned off shore oil rigs. LOL

You honestly believe that?

[Viper]

10:23 AM on 08/04/2010

NOT a single one! Out of thousands...

Heck even the large companies are all merged now...

Ma and Pa that can afford a million or 2 per day costs.. lol

Regards

Regards

[flsense]

09:52 AM on 08/04/2010

GOP addicted to oil company money in their pockets.

[DevonTexas]

09:47 AM on 08/04/2010

THanks GOP. Another problem unresolved!

[wikwox]

09:34 AM on 08/04/2010

Perhaps if we referred to the Senate as "the spoiled rotten children" it would put things in a better perspective.

[GOATLEY3]

09:45 AM on 08/04/2010

Probably the most honest comment on this thread.