"Durbin: New safety standards likely for offshore drilling"

[Clio the Leo]

"Durbin: New safety standards likely for offshore drilling"
Posted: May 3rd, 2010 05:11 PM ET

From CNN Congressional Producer Ted Barrett

Washington (CNN) – Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said Monday that because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, he is "sure that this administration will come out with new standards for safety when it comes to any offshore drilling in the future."

"We're going to hold ourselves to very high standards because of this tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a good indication of the price that you pay if you don't," Durbin said in a conference call with reporters.

Asked if he could support new offshore drilling in the leading energy proposals from the Obama administration and key senators, Durbin acknowledged, "It's a hard case to make until you can get down to the safety issues."


Durbin, who has historically opposed offshore drilling, said he and other lawmakers have much to learn about new technologies that could have prevented the spill in the Gulf, such as an acoustic system that could trigger a plug for the blown well.

"There's a lot to be learned by members and perhaps new standards when it comes to off-shore drilling," Durbin said. "I don't think we're going to eliminate offshore drilling in the future, but any future offshore drilling is going to be held to much higher safety standards."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/03/durbin-new-safety-standards-likely-for-offshore-drilling/?fbid=FIK4gPKmci8

[TygrBright]

1. REALLY???? Why? (Sorry, sarcasm smiley doesn't work in subject line.) n/t

[AtomicKitten]

2. Derp.

[Phx_Dem]

3. Wow. That's a novel idea.

Now see if you can get it past the wingnuts. Even the gulf state wingnuts will probably still vote against it.

[freddie mertz]

4. Laughable if it wasn't so terrifyingly stupid.

Will we ever learn?

[rurallib]

5. And when republicans are in office who will enforce it?

[Enrique]

6. they've already decided they're going to keep drilling

we know what the results of the 30-day study will be: drill baby drill.

[Radical Activist]

8. Wow. That's cynical.

Why on earth wouldn't Obama go back to the position he held in the primary now that there's political cover?

[jenmito]

10. And what position was THAT? I guess you don't realize that the reason he said he was

against the "Drill Baby Drill" idea was because it would take a long time to get any oil from the drilling so it would not affect the high prices of gas which was the whole reason they wanted to "drill here, drill now." He didn't change his position-you're comparing apples and oranges.

[Radical Activist]

12. You aren't distinguishing

between an issue position and one of several arguments used to support that position. You should.

[Cha]

11. We know no such thing..that's

your interpretation.

[Radical Activist]

7. This is an indication of the direction Obama will be moving.

More restrictions rather than expansion. And if you put enough restrictions, it becomes unprofitable or impossible to keep drilling. Obama could effectively end offshore drilling even if he never announces it that way. Kind of like the way he ended mountaintop removal coal mining through an EPA clean water act ruling.

[ClarkUSA]

9. Exactly. n/t

[TheKentuckian]

13. Ban it and let em cry

There is no level of regulation that will prevent a similar accident 100% other than abstinence. Today's fool proof is tomorrows absurdly inadequate. Until, we can stop and truly clean up such messes then no way is the risk to reward ratio anywhere near good enough to take such crazy gambles.

We've already done more damage than the entire return on the risk of drilling can justify. There isn't enough oil. The total possible haul from the gulf is mere days worth of fuel and anyone that would trade this kind of adverse impact to gain a few days, months, or even a few years fuel is a greedy and thoughtless moron.