House narrowly approves bill to help US refineries

[babylonsister]

House narrowly approves bill to help US refineries
07 Oct 2005 19:41:49 GMT

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N075245.htm

Source: Reuters


By Chris Baltimore

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - In a cliffhanger vote held open by Republican leaders until they won, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by two votes on Friday a bill clearing the way for U.S. oil refineries to expand.

The legislation, written by Republican Joe Barton of Texas, barely won approval despite dropping a White House-backed provision that would have gutted clean air rules to help refineries and coal-powered utilities.

In the first major House vote since Texan Tom DeLay was forced to step down as majority leader, Republicans won, 212-210, in a roll call that ran more than 40 minutes, far beyond the allotted five minutes.

Democrats in the chamber chanted "shame, shame, shame" as the final tally was announced.
more...

[speedoo]

1. Are House Dems finally showing some spine?

Or is this just a blip?

[jrw14125]

2. wonder why?

"Since 1990, energy companies have made $183 million in political contributions alone, 75 percent of which has gone to Republicans.17 In addition, over the past six years, nine of the top ten recipients of contributions from oil and gas companies have been Republicans.18 In just the last election cycle, the oil and gas industry contributed more than $20 million to Republicans, four times more than the amount donated to Democrats." (http://www.americanprogressaction.org/atf/cf/{65464111-BB20-4C7D-B1C9-0B033DD31B63}/oil_profits.pdf)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Good investment. Their gain will be far more than the 20 million "donated"

[ClintonTyree]

4. Sweet jesus......

we need someone to clean up this stinking country. The god-damned Republicans have sold this country to the highest bidder, shit, ANY bidder and there are a group of Democrats that are just as bad.
Will we ever SEE someone clean up this clusterfuck? Not on your life, this country is owned by big business and they'll never allow any candidate that isn't in their pocket to be elected. It's sickening. So sickening I'm seriously considering moving to Canada. Hell, they're not perfect either but they care about their citizens a hell of a lot more than THIS fucking country does. I'm 55 years old and I may as well live out my life somewhere that's not going to take 10 years off my life because of all the stinking graft and cronyism. My blood pressure can't handle all of this shit, this country is going right down the crapper and our government doesn't give a shit as long as their pockets keep getting filled with payoffs. Fuck this shit.

[RC]

5. What happened to the Billion$ in profit$ the oil companie$

don't know what to do with?