Mr. No-Food-for-Poors Massie OKs Billions for Big Oil

From VoteNote:

Offshore Drilling Bill – Passage - Vote Passed (235-186, 13 Not Voting)

Before leaving for the July 4th recess, the House passed a bill that would direct the Interior secretary to implement a five-year oil and gas leasing program off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including areas off of California, South Carolina and Virginia. The vote largely broke along party lines, with 16 Democrats voting in favor of the bill and 6 Republicans voting no. Five of the six GOP no votes came from the New Jersey delegation. The bill would make at least half of the unleased costal areas with the most potential for energy production available for exploration and would create a nationwide revenue sharing system for all coastal states. Before passing the bill, the chamber narrowly defeated (209-210) a Democratic amendment by Alan Grayson of Florida that would prevent the bill from affecting states’ authority to restrict leasing and natural-resource development beneath states’ navigable waters. Reps. Peter A. DeFazio, D-Ore. And Lois Capps, D-Calif. also offered amendments to protect sensitive coastline in Alaska and California. Both were defeated. The House adopted (217-202) a Paul Broun, R-Ga., amendment that would place a 60-day limit on judicial review of claims arising from projects in the leasing program. It would place restrictions on appeals and institute a "loser pays" requirement on individuals or entities filing suit, except in specified circumstances.

Rep. Thomas Massie voted YES

First, Big Oil and Big Gas get access to billions of dollars' worth of fossil fuels for pennies in lease charge. Second, states and municipalities are barred from protecting their own residents by restricting offshore drilling in their own waters.

Now that's what I call Big Government jack-booted thuggery.