Reid tries to sneak oil shale ban back into legislation

[5711-Marine]

Reid tries to sneak oil shale ban back into legislation
By Michelle Malkin • September 25, 2008 11:47 AM

Sen. Jim DeMint’s office reports just now that Harry Reid is trying to sneak the oil shale ban — backed by House Democrats — back into legislation under cover of the bailout frenzy.

Details:

We’ve just been alerted that despite House Democrats relenting on extending bans on offshore drilling and oil shale in the continuing resolution (CR) appropriations bill, Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid has decided to sneak an extension of the oil shale ban through as Congress fights over the financial bailout. Oil shale in America’s West is estimated to hold be between 800 billion and 2 trillion barrels of oil — that is more than three times the proven oil reserves in Saudi Arabia alone.

Here is the text of Reid’s proposed new ban on oil shale, that he is trying to add as an amendment to the CR or move seperately as a “stimulus” package, or we should say an anti-stimulus package if this is included.

Sec 1602 continues ban on oil shale. The language follows:

SEC. 1602. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 152 of division A of H.R. 2638 (110th Congress), the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, the terms and conditions contained in section 433 of division F of Public Law 110–161 shall remain in effect for the 19 fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.

It would be an insult to all Americans if Senate Democrats worked to bailout Wall Street while damaging our future prosperity by banning development of vast energy reserves in oil shale.

Americans for Prosperity responds:

“Only in Harry Reid’s Washington could a ban on energy production and the thousands of manufacturing jobs it would create be considered an ‘economic stimulus.’

“Somebody needs to ask Harry Reid how blocking private companies from creating good jobs and lowering the cost of energy for millions of American families will do anything to get our economy back on track. No wonder Congressional approval levels are at historic lows and we find ourselves in this economic situation.

“Every Senator who truly cares about an economic recovery should tell Harry Reid to remove this cynical provision from his so-called ‘economic stimulus’ bill immediately, and if he refuses to do so, they should vote against this bill.”

Redstate: Get on the phone right now…

Call your Senator right now at (202)224-3121 and tell him to tell Harry Reid not to put the drilling ban back in the continuing resolution.

Section 1602 of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008 needs to get tossed.