Deep Blade Journal

At least some parts of the Energy Bill will poke through in 2005

President Bush and Veep Cheney promise that scenes like these will be more common in the Alaskan arctic

With peak oil descending on America like a ton of bricks, the 2004 election appears to have tipped the balance against the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Wampum has a detailed political analysis specifically on the ANWR issue. The writer’s Democratic strategy conclusion near the end of this piece is quite interesting:

Democrats need to decide what they want to do about ANWAR. One option is to stand, fight, and lose on the narrow issue of ANWAR. Another option is to try to add provisions that will make the inevitable drilling more environmentally friendly.

My preferred option is to present a comprehensive energy plan as an alternative to the Republican bill and then allow the Republican majority to pass what it will.

The comprehensive plan should set out a road to energy independence for the United States. It should reject the false choice between economic growth and environmental protection and find ways to do both by creating new industries concerned with environmental protection and clean up.

It should be forward looking by calling for investment in new energy technologies such as hydrogen. It should combine new sources of energy with more efficiency and conservation. It should be practical and easily explained.

If any plan can meet those goals, I, for one, am fully prepared to compromise within the party on any specific item (ANWAR, nuclear power, CAFE standards, Gulf drilling, or whatever) to be able to agree on a comprehensive alternative to the Republican plan.

If we take that route, Democrats will not only win elections when the public tires of ineffective Republican policies, but will also have a mandate to enact a set of policies upon attaining power.

My own gut feeling is that the energy picture is going to blow wide open. Political resistance to oil drilling will pretty much vanish. Saving ANWR from greedy, Cheney-connected interests will not be possible. So I agree with the Wampum writer — compromise with an aim to ameliorate environmental damage while limiting the theft and corruption normally associated with energy extraction seems wise at this juncture.

See also: this analysis posted by Bob at Howlings. ANWR’s best friend may be the water-polluting chemical MTBE, as it has so far gummed the works for the Energy Bill.

Tax-return-privacy-gate has Republicans in retreat

Ernest Istook (R-OK): “I didn’t write it; I didn’t approve it; I wasn’t even consulted. My name shouldn’t be associated with it, because I had nothing to do with it, and didn’t even know about it until after the bill was done and was filed.”

This thing is just delicious. With all of the power and glory of their new perceived voter mandate, Republicans in both the House and Senate of the United States Congress are running away from their own taxpayer anti-privacy provision like a herd of elephants with their tails between their legs.

According to a story in the New York Times, Representative Ernest Istook, the Republican from Oklahoma who occupies the Chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, “was responsible for the insertion of the tax provision in the 3,000-page, $388 billion legislation that provides financing for most of the government”.

Read that story, then read the actual language they passed along with the massive bill, as quoted by Josh Marshall. See if you think the “tempest in a teapot” denials by those responsible for the lawmaking process are credible:

Hereinafter, notwithstanding any other provision of law governing the disclosure of income tax returns or return information, upon written request of the Chairman of the House or Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service shall allow agents designated by such Chairman access to Internal Revenue Service facilities and any tax returns or return information contained therein. (emphasis added)

Marshall has an extensive thread going on this issue, of which the latest posting is here.

The Washington Post has a page A1 story today. This is fun to watch!