Del. Chris Saxman’s bill to encourage the exploration for natural resources in U.S. waters off the coast of Virginia, and then dedicate future revenues and royalties from offshore drilling to Virginia’s Transportation Trust Fund appears well on its way to passage.
Sailing through the rules committee in a bi-partisan manner (12-3), the vote on HB 6006 will take place on Wednesday when the House reconvenes.
“Even though surveys repeatedly show strong public support for increased domestic energy exploration and offshore drilling, legislation that would bring America closer to energy independence remains stalled in Congress,” noted Delegate Saxman. “Though federal officials will ultimately decide whether to lift the ban on offshore drilling, it is important for Virginia, possessing potentially significant offshore resources, to prepare for that possibility now. By passing House Bill 6006, the Virginia General Assembly can send a strong message to Congress that we are ready to act.”
The senate version of this bill, introduced by Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach), and discussed here on Bearing Drift, failed to make it out of the agriculture committee on a strict party-line vote…a reversal of many Democrats (Ticer, Deeds, Reynolds, Puckett, and Whipple) from their vote in 2005. Sen. Ralph Northam of Norfolk also opposed Wagner’s bill.
Interesting how Democrats were for exploration when gas was $1.92 per gallon, but against it three years later when it is over $4 per gallon.
