Democrats Seek Edge With Interior Nominee

[Judi Lynn]

Democrats Seek Edge With Interior Nominee
By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer
34 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne's nomination for interior secretary could run into trouble from Senate Democrats who want to use it as a bargaining chip to stop more oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, or at least assure their states get a cut.

Ahead of Thursday's hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record), D-Fla., said he would try to block Kempthorne unless Republicans back off their plan to open 3.6 million acres of the central Gulf to oil and gas drilling.

Nelson, citing the potential for environmental damage, said Wednesday he would "keep all my options open" for delaying the nomination. "I have nothing personally at all against Governor Kempthorne," Nelson said after meeting with Kempthorne, a former senator.

Energy production, gas prices and potential drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge also were expected to be covered at the hearing. Kempthorne said only that his meetings to seek the support of Nelson and other senators had gone well. "We're encouraged," he told reporters.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060503/ap_on_go_ot/interior_secretary