Bipartisanship breaks out over offshore drilling revenues

It seems a new-found sense of bipartisanship has broken out in the halls of Congress over the issue of revenue sharing from offshore drilling between the Federal government and the states.

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) – the primary authors of the Senate climate change bill – are hoping to gain support for the bill from some Republicans and “oil-state” Democrats by adding the carrot of sharing oil revenue with the states.

As most of you are aware, Virginia is counting on a portion of those potential future revenues to help fund transportation and develop renewable energy industries.

Democrats such as Senators Mary Landrieu (La.), and Mark Warner and Jim Webb of Virginia, are in favor of sharing revenue.

With such bipartisan support, you would think this is a no brainer, right?

Nope.

Once again, that whole Federalism-thing rears its head.

According to CQ, Senators from more inland areas – and Democrats – are expressing “serious concern” about the shift in revenue.

Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), John Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) wrote to other Senators Monday:

“The fiscal consequences of such a loss would be devastating, particularly given the enormous demands on the federal Treasury and our need to reduce the deficit,” they wrote. “There is no justification for using these significant national resources to provide benefits only for a few coastal states and their citizens. Rather, they must be available for the important public needs of all Americans.”

The irony is these senators don’t object to offshore drilling, just as to who will get the cash, but it may just bring the prospect of drilling offshore to a standstill.

Late last month in the House, Rep. Bob Goodlatte introduced with bipartisan support the “Virginia Access to Energy Act.”

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About the author

JR Hoeft

Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.