Congress deadlocked over offshore drilling

On the Senate side, majority leader Harry Reid has talked about offering Republicans a floor vote on the issue, but he blocked amendments on the "Stop Excessive Energy Speculation" bill, including a proposal to lift the ban on offshore drilling. "Republicans once again have run away from an opportunity to provide a short-term solution to our energy crisis," he said after the vote.

Republicans say that all three votes opposing energy legislation aim to force Democrats to take up the issue of offshore drilling. "Almost every Republican just voted to stay on this subject, to continue our energy debate into next week," said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell after Friday's vote.

The issue also plays into the presidential campaign. On Saturday, Sen. John McCain, the likely Republican presidential nominee, renewed calls on Democrats to lift the ban. "The Congress now has the sole power to lift the ban, but so far they can't be bothered to get around to it," he said in a radio address.

Senator Obama opposes offshore drilling in protected areas. Lifting the congressional ban would "merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for 30 years," he said in a statement after Mr. Bush's July 14 order lifting of the executive ban.

Republicans say that a Senate vote on the issue would expose the Democrats' divisions and embarrass Obama. "Senator Reid can't allow a vote that will put Senator Obama in a tough spot," says Don Stewart, a spokesman for Senator McConnell.

With leaders on both sides of the aisle digging in for a long siege, other lawmakers are reaching across party lines for a fix.

Next Tuesday, a bipartisan working group plans to release a final draft of a comprehensive energy plan that includes the lifting of the ban. The plan locks in 40 percent of royalties from new leases on the outer continental shelf for conservation, research on renewable energy, environmental cleanup, and funding for low-income energy assistance, says David Helfert, a spokesman for Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D) of Hawaii, a cofounder of the working group with Rep. John Peterson (R) of Pennsylvania.

Rep. Nick Lampson (D) of Texas is now pursuing his own version of an offshore drilling bill that would dedicate all $2.6 trillion in expected royalties to research on alternative energy.

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