Washington, D.C.-Republicans struggled to salvage at least limited offshore oil and gas drilling legislation by agreeing to adopt the Senate version and send it on to the White House for approval, but the final outcome was uncertain as Congress moved toward final adjournment last week and turning control over to the Democrats in January. Supporters, including those sponsoring the more expansive House Deep Oceans Energy Resources (DOER) Act, tried to bring up the compromise for floor vote, but found they didn’t have the two-thirds needed for a stand-alone action. Running out of time near the end of the shortened one-week lame duck session, these congressmen had to choose between attaching it to a tax bill or continuing course by allowing amendments to be considered. As Green Markets went to press last week, ARA’s Richard Gupton, who has been tracking the movement for fertilizer and other agriculture interests, confirmed that the offshore drilling bill had been incorporated in a tax extender and that the House may take action Dec. 8 and the Senate would vote thereafter. Gupton noted that it’s a “do or die” situation because of the more environmentally attuned Democrats taking over next year. “If they can not pass the limited Senate offshore drilling bill the opportunities to address this issue next Congress are slim to none,” he concluded. One of the hang-ups was that the Senate bill would open only 8.3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida and limit billions of dollars in federal royalties to four states, including hurricane-ravaged Louisiana. Bobby Jindal, R-La., said he had talked with the administration, and the White House agreed to sign this legislation as soon as it passes. Jindal is still optimistic that provisions included in DOER that passed the House earlier this year will be addressed in additional legislation next year.
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