Secret republican meeting on energy while Wilson is all over the news

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=143026

Critical US energy bill crafted in secrecy

Action on GOP-drawn measure involving oil, gas, nuclear could come as early as Friday.

By Gail Russell Chaddock | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

WASHINGTON – The massive energy bill taking final shape behind closed doors on Capitol Hill this week began in controversy and is heading into more of it.

Secrecy on energy issues began years ago when Vice President Cheney's energy task force met behind closed doors - a controversial process still being debated in the courts.

Now the two Republican chairmen in charge of the energy packages from the House and Senate are behind closed doors again - this time to rewrite the bill themselves without input from Democrats and other critics.

The process defies convention in this capital city.

What's known so far is that if the bill becomes law it would bring about several important changes. It would seek to:

• Open protected federal lands to exploration and drilling.

• Revive the nuclear power industry.

• Inventory offshore drilling sites from Florida to California.

• Open huge natural-gas reserves on Alaska's North Slope.

Much more: http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1002/p01s02-uspo.html

[Dr Fate]

1. Damn- I hope DEMS make this an issue as well...

...it has been said that when one scandal breaks (Will "Leakgate" be the one?), others are given more legitimacy...

Hopefully the media will report on this pattern of "mysterious closed-door GOP energy policy meetings"...

Thanx for the heads-up NSMA- And I promise to hit the books as soon as I finish my 20 minute a day news break!!!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Glad to see you...how's it going esquire?

[Dr Fate]

4. Good- midterms in Torts & Crim LAW on Oct 15...

...so less play-time these days- luckily those are my 2 favorites...

... I still stay abreast of the news- thank goodness for LBN- I can learn more news in 20 minutes than your average self-described "News Junkie" who still thinks merely watching CNN and Fox somehow qualifies...

[politicaholic]

3. Am I going dillusional?

Is it a bunch of old neocon powermongers sitting around hunched over martinis and coffee, munching on spotted owl sandwiches, and drawing smiley faced oil wells on a big north american map?

What a daymare.

[salin]

5. that is about the best description... save one detail

squeezing dollars out of the waiters apron as they go on a deregulation spree.

[ComerPerro]

6. They may as well

They have already shown countless times that they have nothing but loathing and disdain for the democratic process.
People in this country need to wake the fuck up, because this is the most secretive administration in history.

[bigtree]

7. Saw the Democrats on C-Span today talking about the Republicans

excluding all but industry types from negotiations. They didn't say they would oppose the conference report, but came close. More pressure is needed!

Republican committee member releases (only good for a glimpse of their crookery):

SENATE ENERGY CONFERENCE POSTPONED UNTIL THIRD WEEK OF OCTOBER, FOLLOWING SENATE RECESS October 1, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/rep_release.cfm?id=212465

DEMOCRAT SENATORS, REPS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO ENERGY CONFERENCE DRAFT October 1, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/rep_release.cfm?id=212459

Democrats news releases:

Energy Conference Update #8 (Can You Hear Me Now?)
September 29, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/dem_release.cfm?id=212304


Energy Conference Update #7 (Fact-Checking)
September 29, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/dem_release.cfm?id=212303


Energy Conference Update #6 (Dingell's Dismay)
September 29, 2003
http://energy.senate.gov/news/dem_release.cfm?id=212302


Updates:
http://energy.senate.gov/

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. Why don't we just call this the United States of Argentina?

That's what we are going to look like when the motherfuckers get done with us.

Energy companies that spew out shit...spoil whatever property they don't use the state to sieze (as long as it's not in their wealthy cronies' back yards.) Austerity programs so severe that trendy people who suffer from "chemical imbalances" won't be able to afford a pill OR a therapist ( telling figure..nearly 40% of middle class suburban Argentinians were undergoing therapy when the shit hit the fan down there)

Sewage facilities not working properly because the fucking thieves that contracted to do public works with the officials they paid off pocketed the money.

And nuke shit transported on freeways during rush hour cut off by fucking assholes in their SUVS on cellphones causing multicar nuclear chain collisions.

Today I hate every one of these fucking bastards.

[bigtree]

10. This is a good summary of the proposals the Democrats submitted

TALKING POINTS THAT SUMMARIZE CHANGES BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND DISCUSSION DRAFTS
September 29, 2003 - News Release
http://energy.senate.gov/news/rep_release.cfm?id=212281

They're trying too hard to compromise with the Republicans. They should just walk away. I'd forgive.

[Flying_Pig]

9. FILIBUSTER! FILIBUSTER! FILIBUSTER!

:grr:
!!!!

[LittleApple81]

11. What is with these stupid Republicans? They really want to

mess up the country totally!
And they are succeeding.
Arghhhhh

[bloom]

12. aaaaarrrrhhhhhhhhhgggggggg............................

[scottxyz]

13. Why is energy policy secret?

Since when is an energy policy something that has to be drawn up behind closed doors?

[10digits]

14. They control the Congress.

It will pass. Reality sucks. Its time to take it back.