Reply #5: This bill that just passed: [View All]

[babylonsister]

House passes bill to boost refinery capacity
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House narrowly approved a Republican-crafted energy bill Friday aimed at encouraging construction of new refineries, although opponents said it would do nothing to ease energy prices while handing unneeded benefits to a profit-rich oil industry.

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The bill passed 212-210. Its prospects in the Senate were uncertain.

The vote, which was supposed to be taken in five minutes, lasted more than 40 minutes as GOP leaders searched for the last two votes they needed to get the bill approved. They buttonholed lawmakers for last-minute lobbying as Democrats complained loudly that the vote should be closed. Finally two GOP lawmakers switched from "no" to "yes," giving the bill's supporters the margin of victory.

"Is this the House of a Banana Republic?" Rep. Henry Waxman, D-California, shouted at one point, expressing his frustration about the GOP holdup of the final tally. No Democrats voted for the legislation.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/07/katrina.energy.a...