CNN/AP: House Republican leaders abruptly pull offshore drilling bill from floor

[DeepModem Mom]

House leaders abruptly pull offshore drilling bill from floor
December 5, 2006

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House Republicans abruptly pulled from floor action Tuesday a bill to open a large area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling after it became clear the legislation lacked the two-thirds vote needed for passage.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate, was to have been one of the last major legislative achievements of this session of Congress.

It would open 8.3 million acres of the Gulf that is now off limits to drilling and also steer hundreds of millions of dollars of federal royalty payments to four Gulf coast states -- a windfall for Louisiana, which would get about half the money.

Republicans leaders gave no reason for the decision,

But an aide to a lawmaker strongly supporting the legislation said that a number of Republicans withdrew their support at the last minute and some Democrats also had signaled they would not support the measure.

The aide, who requested anonymity because another attempt is expected on the bill, said GOP leaders planned to revive the bill in a way that only a majority vote is required or attach it to another bill. GOP leaders had put the measure on an expedited schedule, requiring two-thirds approval....

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/12/05/congress.roundup.ap/index.html

[Demeter]

1. Run Out The Clock

Send those clowns home to sorely-needed retirement.

[trogdor]

5. Amen to that.

Why are they still in session? Somebody please tell me.

[Tellurian]

14. GOOD! I hope the new DEM Congress

passes NEW Legislation TAXING the Tax FREE OIL Industry..

Opportunity IS knocking on the door!

[warrens]

2. Gee, pulled to make it sneakier and less democratic

Who would EVER expect the GOP to do such a thing?

[yellowcanine]

4. If they drop the 2/3 rule they will have to allow votes on amendments.

If any of the amendments pass the bill has to go to conference. I am sure that would please Fristy mightily. :rofl:

[Idioteque]

7. They don't have to allow amendments...

...they can pass a closed rule.

[yellowcanine]

10. Doesn't it take a 2/3 vote to do that if anyone objects?

[Idioteque]

11. Nope...50%. n/t

[yellowcanine]

12. If you are talking about closing debate - Roberts Rules says 2/3 needed.

And as long as debate is permitted, amendments can be made. If an amendment gets a second, it has to be debated and voted on. Does the House not follow Robert's Rules?

On Edit:
Debate, close - needs second, not debatable, not amendable, requires 2/3 vote, can be reconsidered.

From Robert's Rules of Order Made Simple
http://www.sonoma.edu/Senate/Roberts_Simple.html

[Idioteque]

13. Robert's Rules are based on the House rules...

...but simplified a bit.

In the House, the rules committee passes what are known as special rules that determine how a bill is to be debated. These may be "open rules" (allowing any amendments), "closed rules" no amendments, or "modified closed" (no amendments except ones listed in the report).

These rules are adopted by a simple majority.

[Idioteque]

3. Why do they keep putting these bills on the suspension calender?

Are they stupid? They tried putting the Vietnam trade bill on the suspension calender and it failed. It had majority support... they should have just brought it up with a special rule like they do everything else.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. "Are they stupid?"

In a word, yes.

[tridim]

8. We need to abolish the lame duck session

What's the point? I assume it's a holdover from the days when it took a week to travel to DC, which obviously isn't a problem any more.

[Scurrilous]

9. House GOP pulls offshore drilling bill

<snip>

"House Republicans abruptly pulled from floor action Tuesday a bill to open a large area of the eastern Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling after it became clear the legislation lacked the two-thirds vote needed for passage.

The bill, which has already passed the Senate, was to have been one of the last major legislative achievements of this session of Congress.

It would open 8.3 million acres of the Gulf that is now off limits to drilling and also steer hundreds of millions of dollars of federal royalty payments to four Gulf coast states — a windfall for Louisiana, which would get about half the money.

Republicans leaders gave no reason for the decision,

But an aide to a lawmaker strongly supporting the legislation said that a number of Republicans withdrew their support at the last minute and some Democrats also had signaled they would not support the measure."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061205/ap_on_go_co/congress_rdp

[Robbien]

15. The article keeps pushing the idea of LA getting half the money

But would that money help restore LA or would it just help kill what's left of LA's wetlands?

Everything about this bill just smells.

[JudyM]

16. Excellent!

:party: :toast: :headbang: