GOP ties mine cleanups to Arctic drilling

[davidinalameda]

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/Other%20News/2004061422

Congressional Republicans are hoping to lure Democratic votes to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling by linking the move to extension of a program to clean up abandoned coal mines.

At the same time, though, the GOP leadership has not proposed to increase the annual amount of abandoned mine cleanup money it releases from a reclamation trust fund that currently has a $1.5 billion unspent balance.

Today, the House is expected to vote on the measure as part of a series of GOP energy proposals.

disgusting!

[Ganja Ninja]

1. I tell you what, legalize pot and you can drill in the Arctic.

What the hell it's going to happen one day anyway. We might as well get something good out of it.

[Hawkeye-X]

2. Amen!

At least it's a fair tradeoff.

[oldcoot]

5. What if it leads to extinction to a species of animal or plant?

I am not willing to sacrifice a plant or animal species so I can have a joint.

[mac56]

3. Joking, I'm sure.

nm

[Ganja Ninja]

4. All I'm saying is lets find out what it's worth to them ..

and get something for it. If we wait around until gas hits $4 or $5 a gallon we won't be able to stop them. In the meantime they are going to keep beating us over the head with this issue.

What can we get? A single payer health-care system? Higher mileage standards for cars and trucks? Legal pot? The end of paperless voting?

[oldcoot]

6. This is the only compromise I will agree to

Bush has claimed that the refuge can be drilled safely. We should require that the Republicans support legislation requiring that any company that drills in the wildlife refuge follow tough environmental laws regarding protecting the habitat of the plants and animals that live there. The top executives of any company that fails to follow these laws will receive 3 to 5 year sentences in a federal prison. We should also require any company drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to not raise the price on gas for 3 years. After all, since we taxpayers are subsidizing the drilling, we should get something in return.

[Ganja Ninja]

7. That ought to be automatic and we should be able to get more.

Right now this issue is a big fat juicy carrot. If we wait and gas goes up some more we are going to lose and not get anything. The GOP will win and the environmental damage will happen anyway. We are fighting a losing battle. I don't want to see the drilling happen but I don't think we are going to be able to hold them off forever.

[Mithras61]

8. Dems should counter-offer with...

"You can drill in ANWR if you'll support increases in CAFE standards..."

[blindpig]

12. and.....

getting rid of that damnedable 19th century mining law that allows those scum to rape the treasury and the land.
I suspect that stringent environmental enforcement at ANWAR would preclude profitability.

[HereSince1628]

9. Clearly drilling in ANWR is not about the oil ...it's about power

or at least the illusion of power.

There isn't enough oil in ANWR to make much difference to anyone. So why are the pukes relentless on this?

1) oil interests got beat by environmental issues on this

2) puke faces must be saved

3) if you push this through they can prove to their insecure selves that they, in fact, won in the end.

4) all of which is consistent with the authoritarian characteristics of the individual conservative personality which is amplified as they unit in a "cause."

[MaineDem]

10. I think you've nailed it! (nt)

[radfringe]

11. was wondering how the repugs would manage to sneak it in

looks like we all get the shaft.......again......

[dusty64]

13. More rightwing

bullshit, they certainly NEVER give up.