GOP Shifts Away From Bush on Oil Bill

[babylonsister]

GOP Shifts Away From Bush on Oil Bill
By Coral Davenport, CQ Staff


Both chambers are expected to defy the White House on Tuesday and pass legislation that would require the administration to halt oil shipments to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

The strong bipartisan support represents a major shift for Republicans, who until now have generally followed the lead of President Bush in contending that halting deliveries would have almost no effect on gasoline prices.

Democrats have long opposed pumping more oil into the reserve when gasoline prices are high, arguing that it pushes prices even higher, and that diverting the fuel into the market could ease some pain at the pump.

Bush has threatened to veto the proposal if it crosses his desk, but some lawmakers say support is so strong that it may pass both chambers with enough votes to override a veto.

The Senate is expected to vote on the proposal to halt those shipments as an amendment to a flood insurance bill (S2284). The prospect of passage in the Senate prompted House leaders to add a stand-alone bill (HR 6022) to the Tuesday floor vote schedule.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002827782

[jojo54]

1. Are the tables turning?

Maybe the ratpublicans are trying to jump ship now, because they see no advantage for themselves in the coming 4 years?!?!

[babylonsister]

2. Election year? Maybe some rethugs are finally wising up? nt

[tulsakatz]

3. they're just trying to appeal to consumers.........

...in the hopes it will help them get re-elected!!

Believe me, if this were not an election year they wouldn't lift a finger to help the common man!

[angstlessk]

4. I woke up wondering if boosh had finally 'discovered' oil..the stratgic oil reserve that is...

who accounts for this oil??? do we KNOW for a fact that it IS being pumped into the oil reserve or is it being syphoned off for some 'retirement' benefit for boosh and his cronies??? enquiring minds want to know!!!

Or more importantly, does he know something he is keeping from the ocngress?? and feels the NEED to pump this oil? such as INVADING IRAN???