House keeps MTBE protection in energy bill

[maddezmom]

By Chris Baltimore
24 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday narrowly voted to keep intact language in a broad energy bill that protects Exxon Mobil Corp. and other makers of a water-fouling gasoline additive from lawsuits.

The proposed legal liability protection for makers of methyl tertiary butyl ether, or MTBE, is one of several thorny issues that House and Senate negotiators must resolve to prepare a final bill that would boost U.S. energy supplies.

The non-binding motion by Democrat Lois Capps of California would have instructed House negotiators to oppose legal protection for MTBE makers. The chemical has leaked into water supplies in all 50 states and is a suspected carcinogen.

The House voted 217-201 to reject the motion. But the close vote shows how divided Congress is over immunizing big oil companies from MTBE product liability lawsuits.


more:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050714/pl_nm/energy_congress_dc_3

[Fenris]

1. That's not surprising but it still makes me extremely irate.

[MaineDem]

2. Me too

I've got to find out how my Congressman voted. He's a Dem but doesn't act it all the time.

[mom cat]

3. Looks like a party line split...and an important issue for 06!

[MaineDem]

4. Roll call here

Thirteen Dems voted no and 10 didn't vote.

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll373.xml

Interesting, Cunningham was a no show.

Edited to add: He's not a Dem but I thought it was kinda funny he didn't vote.

[Massachusetts]

5. bill that protects Exxon Mobil Corp

Courtesy Exxon Valdez

OUR POLS REPRESENT WHO??? REVOLUTION IS OVER DUE!