House Approves Mass Transit Funds....but Repugs manage to sneak in goodies for Big Oil

[marmar]

from AP:



Jun 26, 7:44 PM EDT


House approves financial help for mass transit

By H. JOSEF HEBERT
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House approved financial help Thursday to mass transit systems facing a surge in riders because of high gas prices. But Republicans blocked Democrats from requiring oil and gas companies to drill on the millions of acres of government land and water on which they already own federal leases.

The House voted 322-98 to authorize $1.7 billion over the next two years to lower fares and expand operations as more riders flock to public transit. The transit measure, which must still be considered by the Senate, marks the first time federal money would be used to support local mass transit operating costs.

The oil lease proposal was an effort by Democrats to counter a push by congressional Republicans to lift a long-standing drilling ban on most offshore U.S. waters. Democratic leaders maintained the industry should first go after oil and natural gas in areas where they hold leases.

But the measure was defeated 223-195, short of the two-thirds vote required, with only a handful of Republicans voting for it.

Democrats proposed the failed drilling mandate and the public transit help as lawmakers struggled to respond to public anger over $4-a-gallon gasoline with the July Fourth holiday and heaviest summer driving season approaching. As the House voted, oil moved into record territory at just over $140 a barrel, signaling that gasoline prices are likely to go higher this summer. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CONGRESS_ENERGY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[wurzel]

1. The Dems in the House have more votes than the Repukes!

How could the Repukes block passage of a bill without Dem help?

[Andy823]

2. Republicans are making

The offshore drilling a major issue, and they are using it against the democrats to put the blame on the democrats for the high prices instead of failed Bush policies and an energy plan written by the major oil companies, and sadly it seems to be working. I have seen articles in my local newspapers already by republicans blaming it all on the fact that oil companies can't drill, and it's the democrats that won't let them! It is being pushed in the media, and if the democrats don't doe something, it will come back and bite them hard come November.

[AndyTiedye]

3. It is Working Because The Repiglickins Own the Media