Reid: No drilling votes in debate over oil speculation

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that he would not allow a vote on an amendment giving states new authority to seek oil off their coasts when he brings a Democratic energy bill to the floor later this month. 

In a sign of escalating tensions, one senior GOP senator called Reid a “chicken” for deciding not to allow amendments on energy production, prompting a Reid spokesman to say that “name calling won't lower the price of oil and gasoline.”

{mosads}Reid criticized President Bush’s announcement earlier in the day to rescind a longstanding executive order banning offshore oil drilling, saying it was a gift to the oil companies that are not exploring for oil in 68 millions of acres available to them.

Republicans are now pressuring Democrats to rescind a congressional moratorium prohibiting the practices and give states the option to decide whether to allow drilling off their coasts.

However, Senate Democrats rejected those calls on Monday.

“We want oil and gas companies to drill on the leases they’ve been given,” Reid said.

He added that oil companies should report to Congress their activities on their leased land and said Congress will invest in renewable energy by pushing through a stalled package of expiring tax incentives.

Democrats blame market speculators on oil industry futures for playing a role in propping up energy prices, and are drafting a bill targeting the practice, which will be unveiled Wednesday. When the Senate votes on that bill, as soon as this month, Reid said he would not allow amendments dealing with oil drilling, which the Republicans will almost certainly seek.

"I said and was very clear that we need to focus on issues of specific matters," Reid said.

The reaction puts Democrats in line with their presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), who opposes lifting the offshore-drilling ban. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) reversed his longstanding support for the ban, and has said that boosting supplies will help bring down soaring gas prices.

"It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for 30 years," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Monday of Bush's decision.

Republicans support targeting speculators as well, but have called for a broader energy package that would also boost domestic production.

"The key to bringing down record-high gas prices is to find more American energy, as well as use less," Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), GOP conference chairman, said. 

 "After today’s announcement by the president, the only hurdle left to beginning offshore exploration is congressional action, and it’s time for the Democratic leadership to listen to the millions of Americans who are demanding we begin today." 

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) called Reid a "chicken" for not allowing votes on oil drilling. 

"Does it seem to you like it does to me like Harry Reid is either scared chicken to have a vote, or has decided that he's going to dictate to the United States Senate?" the ranking Republican on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee said, turning to Alexander at a GOP press conference. "I don't know if you'll use the word 'chicken,' but I will because that's what he's saying: He's saying, 'I'm frightened by the idea that we're going to actually have a vote on a new plan for this huge, huge, reserve of gas and oil that belongs to none other than the people of the United States.' "  

Rodell Mollineau, a Reid spokesman, shot back at Domenici.

“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but name calling won't lower the price of oil and gasoline,” Mollineau said. “This is the U.S. Senate, not a schoolyard. If Republicans are serious about solving our energy crisis they will work with us this month to rein in greedy speculators, pass renewable tax credits and pressure oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres they already have.”

Domenici said Congress would be forced to revisit the issue during debate over the interior appropriations bill, which usually includes the congressional moratorium on offshore drilling.

Republicans stopped short of saying they would filibuster the oil-speculation bill, but suggested they would protest any efforts to limit amendments. They plan to discuss strategy at their weekly Tuesday policy lunch.

"Any serious proposal to deal with $4 gasoline prices has to include finding more American energy, as well as using less," Alexander said. "Sen. Reid is not willing to do that."