Today, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) “said that a bill that includes provisions to increase offshore drilling off the coast of the United States (as envisioned by, among others, the White House) would be a non-starter in the Senate,” the Huffington Post reports. He was specifically referring to climate change legislation.
"As the White House looks down the line, it wants a climate change bill later this year," Nelson told MSNBC. "[Sen.] Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was insisting that there’s going to be offshore drilling. I think that’s dead on arrival."
Aides in the Florida Democrat’s office are even more skeptical about the prospects for an already-too-difficult-to-pass bill. Negotiators have basically incorporated the president’s proposal to expand offshore drilling off the Atlantic coast (and in portions of the Gulf) at the behest of Graham — who said it would be needed for him to help draw out Republican votes, these aides explained. Now, however, coastal senators (and not just Nelson) are prepared to walk away from the compromise if that provision remains in the final version.
(credit image – life)
Congress in Your Pocket
