Bingaman’s energy bill to include drilling

Senate Democrats are finalizing an energy bill that will include oil-drilling proposals, according to senior Democrats and aides.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is drafting a multi-pronged bill that will include a drilling provision alongside other ideas that promote renewable energy and conservation, indicating a possible compromise on an issue that has dominated Congress.

{mosads}Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that Democrats are open to the idea, and Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and energy committee spokesman Bill Wicker both said Bingaman’s bill will include some kind of drilling component.

However, it is unclear whether Bingaman’s bill would allow expanded drilling in areas not currently leased to oil companies or merely include “use it or lose it” language that Democratic leaders have been pushing. In the past, Bingaman has been supportive of new drilling, such as in 2006, when he was a proponent of opening up 8 million acres to offshore drilling in the Lease 181 area in the eastern half of the Gulf of Mexico.

“Sen. Bingaman’s proposals will address both halves of the energy equation: The supply side and the demand side,” said Wicker, who said the bill may be unveiled as early as Tuesday morning.

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said at least 12 Democrats support some form of expanded drilling. However, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) responded that McConnell’s count is “wrong.”

Republicans have pressed Democrats on including drilling to any energy measure, such as a bill on cracking down on oil speculation.

“Unfortunately, the starting bill only deals with a small part of the overall problem,” McConnell said. “We don’t have any problem with taking a look at speculation. But no one would argue that’s all we should do … Dealing with one part of it is not going to pass the smell test with the American people.”

Reid, for his part, said Monday that it is Republicans who are viewing the debate from an isolated viewpoint.

“We have expressed our willingness to consider more drilling as part of a comprehensive short- and long-term package, but Republicans so far have not been willing to entertain other solutions,” Reid said.

The standoff over the speculation bill by Durbin, Reid and Dorgan means that it is Bingaman’s bill that could possibly emerge as the final vehicle.

Reid spokesman Jim Manley said if an agreement on the debate’s process can be reached, Bingaman’s bill may be either folded into the speculation bill or offered as a side-by-side proposal.