Offshore Drilling Ban to be Lifted by Bush

[Motorboat Cruiser]

Any thoughts on this potential compromise, as put forth by the "gang of ten"?

Personally, I don't love it, but I think it is a reasonable compromise, that might actually start getting something done.


The major components of the proposal include:

- Expanding drilling opportunities off the East coast and Gulf of Mexico, which pleases Republicans

- Keeping a ban on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, a concession to Democrats

- Repealing a tax break for oil companies that Democrats have long called for

- Putting billions toward producing more alternative-fuel vehicles, in part paid for by the oil and gas industry

It will be interesting to see which way each candidate votes on it. Kind of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario.