Va. Dem Bucks Administration on Offshore Leasing

Va. Dem Bucks Administration on Offshore Leasing

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Daily Press, Newport News, Va.
by Cory Nealon

There's nothing like a politician not seeking re-election.

Case in point: U.S. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

Since announcing in February he would not seek re-election, Webb has bucked President Barack Obama, a fellow Democrat, on a handful of issues.

First, he criticized Obama's handling of the turmoil in Libya. Next, he backed a bill that would've halted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gases, which Obama favors because the Senate didn't pass energy legislation in 2009.

Now he's calling on Obama to open Virginia's coast to oil and natural gas exploration.

"As gas prices rise, in part due to America's dependence on foreign oil, we must pursue robust energy policies that include the expansion of our domestic energy resources in a safe and secure manner, as well as conservation and clean energy measures," Webb said in a statement issued by his office last week.

He also asked Obama to expand the 2.9-million acre tract -- slightly larger than Delaware -- located 50 miles off Virginia's shore that was previously considered for drilling.

The request comes a little more than a year after Obama announced he would open much of the East Coast, including Virginia, to drilling. Obama scrapped the plan, however, after last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which killed 11 and caused untold damage to the gulf's ecosystem.

For those of you keeping tabs at home, the offshore drilling bill that Webb supports comes from Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke -- the same lawmaker trying to curtail the EPA's aggressive Chesapeake Bay Restoration plan.

Who says the House and Senate can't work together?

Global warming

I got a fair amount of feedback -- most of it critical -- about an article last week concerning global warming skeptic Roy W. Spencer.

Spencer spoke at the Environment Virginia Symposium at the request of Gov. Bob McDonnell's administration.

Spencer said that he agrees with most of what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- the body of scientists that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore -- has to say about global warming.

However, he highlighted gaps in the panel's data and questioned whether mankind is causing the Earth to warm through its use of fossil fuels.

The view is not popular among environmental activists and scientists, both of whom have criticized the media for giving Spencer and similar-minded scientists a platform to expound their views.

What I haven't heard is anyone complaining that Spencer said something false or inaccurate. Instead, the gripes centered on his conservative and evangelical affiliations, which were pointed out in the article.

If you still feel he doesn't deserve a seat at the table, my phone number and email are below. As always, comments are welcomed.