House Passes Refinery Expansion Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republicans pushed through legislation Wednesday that supporters said would speed construction of new refineries to ease tight gasoline supplies. Opponents said the bill would reduce environmental protection and do little to stem high fuel costs.

The legislation was approved by a vote of 239-192 as House Republican leaders sought to dramatize the congressional impasse over energy legislation by bringing up for votes a series of energy-related bills.
...
But some Democrats argued that the bill would allow the Energy Department, whose primary role is to support the energy industry, to override the Environmental Protection Agency and state officials charged with enforcing clean air standards.

It would make the energy secretary ``an environmental czar'' who could override state environmental agencies and local officials, Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., complained. He said GOP leaders were pushing the bill through without ever examining its ramifications in a hearing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4212866,00.html

why is none of this ever making our National Press?? How can we have an informed debate (essential for a free democracy) without a free & unbiased press???

Good heavens, when did we become a ...a....a.... heck what HAVE we become

<sigh>

Is it possible that the senate can shoot it down?

Conservation would be a much better strategy than than increasing refinery capacity.