WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House of Representatives is set to vote Tuesday on a bill clearing the way for more oil drilling in the United States, with the Democrats who control Congress yielding to Republican pressure on the issue.

The bill would expand offshore oil drilling, but not to the extent that many Republicans want.

But some Republicans planned to fight the bill because it contains some provisions they don't like, including a repeal of tax cuts for the oil industry and a lack of incentive for states to allow drilling on their land.

Though the bill would expand offshore oil drilling, Republicans say it still would leave too many offshore areas banned.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said her party's plan presented a choice between "the status quo, which is preferred by Big Oil," and "change for the future to take our country in a new direction."
.....

But Republicans say the House bill wouldn't expanded offshore drilling enough, and they were huddling Tuesday to map out their strategy for fighting the proposal.

Rep. Mike Pence, an Indiana Republican, called the Democratic bill "a charade," denying it would do what its backers claim.

"This is not 'yes' to drilling. This is 'yes, but,' " he said.

"This is 'yes, but no drilling in Alaska, no drilling in the Eastern Gulf, no drilling inside 50 miles,' " Pence said. "This is 'yes, but no litigation reform that will prevent radical environmental attorneys from tying up leases even before a single shovel of dirt is turned.' "

Democrats and Republicans traded harsh words on the House floor Tuesday in the debate over the bill.

Rep. Anthony Weiner, a New York Democrat, said President Bush's "idea of an energy policy is holding hands with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, embracing him with a big smooch."

Source:  http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/offshore.oil.drilling.congress/

* * * *

Now for the best part of a ole' Black Wing Thread.......my comments. 

First off, this is a typical CNN article.    Completely biased and relating ONLY what its Leftist so called "Reporter and Editor" think are important.

First rule of Journalism.....get as much info as possible into the first 3 Paragraphs....most will leave the story at that point.

The Article:

". . .the Democrats who control Congress yielding to Republican pressure on the issue."

Yielding ??   they BLOCKED the Republican Bill, by leaving for vacation w/o a vote killing the proposal 6 weeks ago.

"The bill would expand offshore oil drilling, but not to the extent that many Republicans want."

EXPAND !!!   It will SHRINK the area for offshore drilling.....and stop Alaska from open offshore drilling, restricting them to FIFTY Miles offshore, and NO MORE Than  ONE HUNDRED miles offshore......    WOW....what would we do w/o elected weenies ??

" But some Republicans planned to fight the bill because it contains some provisions they don't like, including a repeal of tax cuts for the oil industry and a lack of incentive for states to allow drilling on their land."

SOME Republicans ??  How about MOST...and some democrats ?  Not tax cuts, tax rebates for alternative studies.
And WHY NOT give the states the resources for the states area ??   After all we are a REPUBLIC, not a FEDERAL SOCIALIST DOMAIN !!!

"Though the bill would expand offshore oil drilling, Republicans say it still would leave too many offshore areas banned."

EXPAND again....is a lie.  A BLATANT Lie. 
Too many area banned ??   How about anything inside of FIFTY MILES offshore ?!?!?!

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said her party's plan presented a choice between "the status quo, which is preferred by Big Oil," and "change for the future to take our country in a new direction."

Well, there it is.  Pelosi telling us what she wants.

The Destruction of big oil, and NO OIL DRILLING for America.
She wants a "New Direction."

Please.  I hope this bill gets crushed.

Imagine.  You can only Drill 50+ Miles offshore, but not further than 100 miles.
The EVIL REPUBLICANS are looking to drill THREE miles offshore.   
HOW EVIL is that.  They want to drill where the oil is....not in HUNDREDS of Feet of water ??   Or off the edge of the continental Shelf.