Pelosi has clearly been feeling the pressure, and has recently said that she might allow a vote on drilling after all

National Review, Sept 1, 2008

Pelosi has clearly been feeling the pressure, and has recently said that she might allow a vote on drilling after all. Unfortunately, she wants legislation along the lines of what ten senators recently offered as a compromise. Their bill would allow very limited offshore energy exploration in exchange for over $80 billion in new federal spending on alternative sources of energy.

There is a simpler solution. The congressional ban on drilling has to be renewed each year, and the current ban expires in September. Congressional Republicans and President Bush should fight to stop it from living on.