House GOP Uses Storms to Ease Energy Laws

From this:

Legislation that would end the longtime ban on energy development along most of the country's coasts and open an Alaskan wildlife refuge to oil drilling advanced Wednesday in the House.
Opponents said Republican leaders were exploiting the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita to pass pro-industry measures that they failed to get included in an energy bill signed into law only two months ago.
It is a "leave no oil company behind" wish list that will damage the environment and do nothing to ease high gasoline or winter heating costs, said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass.
Attempts by Markey to strip the offshore development and drilling provisions failed, both by a 28-14 vote, in the House Resources Committee. The committee then approved the energy legislation 27-16...