The Swine Line

The big topic in Washington D.C. these days is the continued protest by House Republicans on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to shut down the House and give Members of Congress a 5-week vacation before allowing a vote on the House floor on whether to lift the ban on off-shore drilling for oil and natural gas.  After all, soon after President Bush lifted the Executive ban on off-shore drilling, energy markets responded with a drop in the price of oil.

Everyday, House Republicans are speaking out on the House floor, simply demanding an up-or-down vote to lift the ban on drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).  In a highly unusual move, average citizens have been allowed to sit on the House floor, rather than just in the gallery, and listen to the debate.  I was there last week and plan to attend again this week.  The House lights are dimmed, there are no TV cameras (or any kind of camera) allowed, and no microphone.  But it is still fascinating and fun to be part of the action.

According to a news report I heard on the Bob Brinker show last weekend, the DEMS have conducted a poll and it shows that Americans think the president is responsible for the high gas prices.  However, it would be unwise for Speaker Pelosi to bet that polling data will not change.  The House Republicans, talk-radio, and the blogs are educating the people on who is to blame for stopping drilling in the OCS and in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR).

Here is information and a list of votes compiled by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranging from 1995 to 2008, on off-shore drilling and drilling in ANWR.  Take a look and YOU decide…

SELECTED ENERGY VOTES 2003 to Present – Republican vs. Democrat Breakdown as of June 17, 2008

For additional information click here:

For charts on these votes click here and here:

ANWR Votes

10/27/95 – The Senate voted on a bill to implement a competitive leasing program for oil and gas exploration, development and production within the coastal plain of ANWR.  The bill passed 52-47.  Of that, 52 Republicans voted for and 46 Democrats voted against.  

11/17/95 – The Senate voted on a motion to adopt a conference report on a bill to implement a competitive leasing program for oil and gas exploration, development and production within the coastal plain of ANWR.  The motion passed 52-47.  Of that, 52 Republicans voted for and 46 Democrats voted against. 

12/6/95 – President Clinton vetoed the Balanced Budget Act which included a provision to open ANWR. 

4/6/00 – The Senate voted on a motion to table an amendment to the budget resolution to remove funding from the 2001 Budget Resolution to expand exploration in ANWR. The tabling motion passed 51-49. Of that, 43 Republicans voted to table and 41 Democrats voted against tabling. 

4/18/02 – The Senate voted on a cloture motion on an amendment to expand exploration in ANWR. The cloture motion failed 46-54. Of that, 41 Republicans voted for and 46 Democrats voted against. 

3/19/03 – The Senate voted on an amendment to prevent consideration of drilling in ANWR during a fast-track budget reconciliation.  The amendment passed 52-48.  Of that, 42 Republicans voted against and 43 Democrats voted for.  

3/16/05 – The Senate voted on an amendment to strike language to expand exploration in ANWR.  The amendment failed 49-51.  Of that, 48 Republicans voted against and 41 Democrats voted for.  

11/3/05 – The Senate voted on an amendment to strike language establishing an oil and gas leasing program for ANWR.  The amendment failed 48-51.  Of that, 48 Republicans voted against and 41 Democrats voted for.  

3/16/06 – The Senate voted on an amendment to increase energy spending by drilling in ANWR. The amendment passed 51-49. Of that, 48 Republicans voted for and 41 Democrats voted against. 

Offshore Drilling & Other Energy Votes

3/13/08 – The Senate voted on a motion to create a point of order against bills that would raise gasoline prices.  The motion failed 39-59.  Of that, 37 Republicans voted for and 59 voted against.  

3/13/08 – The Senate voted on an amendment to encourage development of oil and gas resources beneath the Outer Continental Shelf and the development of oil shale resources on public lands.  The amendment failed 47-51.  Of that, 43 Republicans voted for and 44 Democrats voted against.  

5/13/08 – The Senate voted on an amendment to allow states to authorize drilling in offshore coastal waters currently subject to a federal moratorium.  The amendment was rejected 42-56.  Of that, 41 Republicans voted for and 48 Democrats voted against.   

5/15/08 – The Senate voted on a motion to fund increased energy exploration on the Outer Continental Shelf should the average price of regular gas in the U.S. reach $5 per gallon.   The motion was rejected 44-51.  Of that, 41 Republicans voted for and 44 Democrats voted against. 

6/13/07 – The Senate voted on the GAS PRICE ACT, as an amendment, to encourage increased domestic refinery capacity.  The amendment failed 43-52.  Of that, 43 Republicans voted for and 52 Democrats voted against.   

6/14/07 – The Senate voted on an amendment to drill for oil off the Virginia coast.  The amendment failed 43-44.  Of that, 37 Republicans voted for and 37 Democrats voted against. 

6/19/07 – The Senate voted on an amendment to increase the production of coal-to-liquid fuel.  The amendment failed 39-55.  Of that, 39 Republicans voted for and 47 Democrats voted against.  

6/19/07 – The Senate voted on an amendment to provide for the expansion of liquefied natural gas terminals.  The amendment failed 37-56.  Of that, 37 Republicans voted for and 56 Democrats voted against.  

6/20/07 – The Senate voted on a motion to create a point of order against bills that would raise gasoline prices.  The motion failed 37-55.  Of that, 36 Republicans voted for and 44 Democrats voted against.  

6/21/07 – The Senate voted on a motion to delay energy tax increases until the Energy secretary can certify that they would not cause increases in the price of gasoline.  The motion failed 38-55.  Of that, 37 Republicans voted for and 46 Democrat voted against.  

12/7/07 – The Senate voted on a cloture motion to consider the Housed-passed comprehensive energy bill containing $21 billion in tax increases – including $13.5 billion on oil and gas firms.  The motion failed 53-42.  Of that 39 Republicans voted against and 47 Democrats voted for.  

8/1/06 – The Senate voted on a bill that would open more than 8.3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas leasing.  The bill passed 71-25.  24 Democrats and 1 Republican opposed the measure. 

11/17/05 – The Senate voted on a motion to impose a temporary windfall profit tax on crude oil and to use the proceeds to provide taxpayers with a $100 tax credit for every person in a their household.  The motion failed 33-65.  Of that, 54 Republicans voted against and 33 Democrats voted for.  

11/17/05 – The Senate voted on a motion to impose a temporary windfall profit tax on crude oil and to use the proceeds to fund LIHEAP.  The motion failed 50-48.  Of that, 45 Republicans voted against and 41Democrats voted for. 

11/17/05 – The Senate voted on a motion to impose a temporary windfall profit tax on crude oil  sold above $40 per barrel and to use the proceeds to provide tax rebates to consumers.  The motion failed 35-64.  Of that, 55 Republicans voted against and 35 Democrats voted for.  

11/17/05 – The Senate voted on a motion to prohibit expensing of intangible drilling costs for integrated oil companies – raising taxes by $2.4 billion.  The motion failed 48-51.  Of that, 48 Republicans voted against and 36 Democrats voted for.  

4/29/04 – The Senate voted on a motion to invoke cloture on an amendment to increase domestic oil production.  The motion to invoke cloture failed 55-43.  Of that, 39 Republicans voted for and 31 Democrats voted against. 

6/12/03 – The Senate voted on an amendment to prevent off shore drilling.  The amendment failed 45-53.  Of that, 41 Republicans voted against and 36 Democrats voted for.