Senate Rejects GOP Proposal on Offshore Drilling

"The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Republican bid to accelerate offshore drilling by requiring regulators to speed up decisions on permits and forcing the government to reschedule canceled lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico.

The legislation represented a Republican counter to a failed Democratic effort to eliminate a suite of tax breaks for the nation's five biggest oil companies. Like the Democrats' bill, the GOP's pro-drilling measure was never expected to pass the Senate - but is destined to be political fodder for election campaign ads nationwide.

Tapping into motorists' angst over high gasoline prices, Republicans argued that their measure was essential to boost domestic production of oil and tamp down the cost of crude."

Jennifer A. Dlouhy reports for Hearst Newspapers May 18, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"McConnell Blasts Dems Ahead of Vote on GOP Drilling Bill" (The Hill)

"The Senate GOP's Plan to Shield Big Oil From Suits" (Mother Jones)

"New Deep-Water Project Wins OK" (Houston Chronicle)

"Senate Rejects GOP Oil Drilling Plan" (CNN)

"Salazar Outlines Specific Legislative Priorities for Oil, Gas" (Oil & Gas Journal)

"Salazar Outlines Administration Wish List for Drilling Reform Bill" (The Hill)

"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Dismisses Complaints on  Drilling Permits" (New Orleans Times-Picayune)

"Murkowski: Obama Administration 'Committed' To Alaska Oil Development" (Alaska Dispatch)

"Salazar: Arctic Nations call for Marine Oil Spill Response Plan, Integrated Management to Protect Natural Resources" (Interior Dept. Press Release)