Snowe and Collins would support filibuster of Energy Bills

[La_Serpiente]

OK, people, we have Collins, Snowe, and now Gregg from New Hampshire. Chafee is probably on the list as well. If they stick with the bill, the filibuster could hold and stop Daschle, Baucus, and Breaux. It could also show the Democrats as not being partisan because we have Republicans on our side.

Also from the article, Sununnu and McCain would support a filibuser. However, THE DEMOCRATS WERE UNSURE AS TO WHETHER THEY WOUDL FILIBUSTER IT OR NOT!!! HELLO!!!??/!!! THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE SOME ALLIES HERE!!!!
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Collins, Snowe would join move to kill energy bill


WASHINGTON — Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said Tuesday that they would support a potential filibuster to kill a pending energy bill, even as the measure passed the House.

The Maine lawmakers are among a handful of Republicans bucking their congressional leaders and President Bush on one of his top domestic priorities.

"The more I delve into this bill, the worse I realize it is," Collins said. "I think it's bad for our environment, it's bad for public health and it's bad energy policy."

more...

http://www.pressherald.com/news/state/031119energy.shtml

[wryter2000]

1. Hooray!

Kudos to Collins and Snowe. They'll probably pay a price at the hands of their "leader" for this!

[wryter2000]

2. Sununu and McCain, too

Sununu (that Sununu?) and McCain also say they'll back a filibuster. Are the real Republicans starting to find a voice?

[salin]

3. McCain has been pretty critical (Leave No Lobbyist Behind... he calls it)

Here are some trigger points that might get other republicans to join. It is important to note that while the Maine senators are considered moderate republicans, Sen. Gregg has no such reputation (suggesting that more conservative senators CAN be swayed to support a fillibuster to kill the bill).

Southern senators have been concerned about taking state power away and giving more reg. power to FERC. They are concerned that this level of deregulation - will lead to more investment in the north, and less in the south (where rural electrification is still an issue - it isn't a big "moneymaking" region so pure market driven energy policies are a big negative for many in the south.)

Another issue with southern democrats - and some other conservatives (esp north west/ plains) is giving the ability to FERC to take land through eminent domain on the behalf of energy companies - for energy transmission (pipes/wires/towers). This is a property rights issue.

An issue in the northwest is that many republican 'outdoorsmen' (hunters/fishers and ranchers) are leery of provisions that allow greater access to public lands for oil and energy drilling - which will harm hunting and fishing and ranching. This is a big problem (big resistance among voters) in the northwest. Might be worth, if one lives in these areas) following MadFlordian's advice elsewhere to call tv and newspapers about the issue - if they get enough calls they will see demand and boom! its on the news.

For fiscal conservatives there is the ever escalating amount of Budget Busting tax giveways (was 19Billion - now is 23+ Billion). Tie this to the 87Billion just voted for Iraq, and rising state/local taxes to pick up for the cuts at the federal level due to deficit spending - and you have some senators who might grow responsive on these grounds (they are getting some real heat from some of their base on the spending spree congress and bush are on.)

Others please add other trigger points that can be used to shore up support for a fillibuster against the energy bill.

[salin]

4. see these threads :

GD http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=738402

LBN http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=227967&mesg_id=227967

Activism/events http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=4071

Editorials http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=22121

Environment/Energy/Science http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=2697

[eyesroll]

5. Would enough Republicans defect to get this bill dumped

on a straight vote?
That would be something.

[salin]

6. I don't know - and it may be too risky

there has been the dolling out of a lot of porky-goodies in this. Safter/easier way is to fillibuster, and kill the bill in that way.

[Maine-i-acs]

7. Maine is 4-for-4 now!

2 reps and 2 senators against the energy bill. 2 rethugs and 2 dems.

Snowe and Collins realize that Maine is never clearly in the sway of either party. We vote issues and pocketbooks. And we pay a lot for heating oil.

Great Senators and Reps have come from both parties in the Pine Tree State. (Think George Mitchell and Bill Cohen).

[alfredo]

8. Pett speaks out on the energy Bill

[Kolesar]

9. It is regional politics--expect the downwind states to fight vs. coal

Coal is polluting Maine, so they are fighting it. In a coal producing state like Ohio, there is no way that the GOOP senators are going to vote against their favorite industries (that cause the pollution that goes to Maine and New England, by the way).

The corn states also have an incentive to vote for this barf bag of legislation since ethanol-from-corn production will double.

Are there any other GOOP senators left in New England that we could lobby?