Politicians show once again.....

....that they are not serious on lowering energy costs or reducing dependency on foreign suppliers.

House of Representatives votes to keep offshore oil, natural gas drilling ban

H. JOSEF HEBERT

WASHINGTON (AP) - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected an attempt late Thursday to end a quarter-century ban on oil and natural gas drilling in 85 per cent of America's coastal waters despite arguments that the new supplies are needed to lower energy costs.

Lawmakers from Florida and California led the fight to maintain the long-standing drilling moratorium, contending that energy development as close as five kilometers from shore would jeopardize multibillion-dollar tourism industries.