House approves bill on drilling, oil spills

[Elmore Furth]

Source: Associated Press

ASHINGTON — The House approved a bill Friday to boost safety standards for offshore drilling, remove a federal cap on economic liability for oil spills and impose new fees on oil and gas production.

Democratic leaders hailed the bill as a comprehensive response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and said it would increase drilling safety and crack down on oil companies such as BP. Companies with significant workplace safety or environmental violations over the preceding seven years would be banned from new offshore drilling permits.

Republicans and some-oil state Democrats opposed the measure, calling it a federal power grab that would raise energy prices and kill thousands of American jobs because of the new fees and liability provision.

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., the bill's main sponsor, said the legislation would be a tribute to the 11 oil rig workers who were killed when the BP well exploded in April by creating strong new safety standards for offshore drilling, ending the revolving door between government regulators and industry and holding BP and other oil companies accountable for accidents.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jzgs5RUnejbtYuUEigNXhGzYATgAD9H9M53G1

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

1. Sponsored by Congressman, Nick Rahall- the man Don Blankenship is targeting for defeat

and is forming a 527 to spend millions on the effort
more here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8837513