Today, House Republican Leaders pulled from consideration a limited off-shore drilling bill, as supporters acknowledged that they could not muster a two-thirds majority to clear it without amendments. The bill would have limited offshore drilling to 8.3 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which was much more palatable than the original House approach that would have opened the entire U.S. Eastern coastline to drilling. Moderate Republicans such a Reps. Charlie Bass (R-NH) and Nancy Johnson (R-CT) were working to persuade moderate Democrats that this "limited bill" is a good deal and worth supporting.
Given that moving the bill "stand- alone" was not successful, House leaders are discussing the possibility of attaching the bill (S 3711) to a package of tax breaks Republicans hope to pass before adjournment. No final decision on this approach has been made, however.