House passes refinery bill

WASHINGTON – The House voted on Friday to encourage U.S. oil companies to build new refineries in a raucous roll call that Republican leaders extended 40 minutes while they cornered their own members to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

Democrats crying “shame, shame” – and some GOP moderates – called the bill a concession to rich oil companies that would do nothing to ease energy costs which include the expected soaring of heating bills this winter.

The bill would streamline government permits for refineries, open federal lands including closed military bases for future refinery construction and limit the number of gasoline blends refiners have to produce, eliminating many blends now designed to reduce air pollution.

President Bush welcomed the vote.

“I commend the House for passing legislation that would increase our refining capacity and help address the cost of gasoline, diesel fuels, and jet fuels,” he said in a statement.

The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, passed 212-210, but not before a standoff on the House floor. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., asked at one point, “Is this the House of a banana republic?”

Afterward, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, of California, called it all “a shameless display of the Republican culture of corruption,” a theme she has used in recent days on a number of issues since DeLay’s indictment in Texas on conspiracy and money laundering charges in connection with campaign finance activities.

Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who had predicted a close vote, said he was not aware of “any deals” being made to get the last votes.

No Democrats voted for the legislation, although three initially favored it, only to change their minds after talking to Pelosi and Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking Democrat.