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Three Democrats and three Republicans joined the so-called Gang of 10, making it the Gang of 16. The group supports a bill that would lift a ban on oil and natural gas drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the southeastern U.S. coast, invest $20 billion in the development of petroleum-free motor vehicles and extend tax credits for renewable energy.
Among the new converts are two Republican senators facing tough re-election bids this fall, underscoring the role high energy prices are playing on the campaign trail. By signing on with the group, Coleman and John Sununu of New Hampshire have broken with the majority of their party, which like President Bush, would like to see the moratorium on drilling lifted along the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts.
Sununu said Tuesday that while he favors lifting the moratorium entirely, the bipartisan bill opens up new areas and has a chance of being passed this year.
The other senators rounding out the Gang of 16 on Tuesday were Republican John Warner of Virginia and Democrats Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Tom Carper of Delaware and Ken Salazar of Colorado.
The coalition, under the leadership of Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., assembled in early August. The other four original Republican members are John Thune of South Dakota, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Johnny Isakson of Georgia and Bob Corker of Tennessee. They were joined by Democrats Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
Congress broke for its August recess without finding agreement on how big a role expanded domestic oil and gas production should have in a broader energy bill. Lawmakers return Sept. 8 for a three-week session before leaving again to campaign for the November elections.
When Congress reconvenes, Republican leaders want an up-and-down vote on a bill that would allow more extensive offshore drilling. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., have indicated in recent weeks that any bill including drilling would be packaged with other measures opposed by Republicans, such as selling oil from the country’s emergency stockpile and raising royalties paid by oil companies.
Coleman is facing a tough re-election battle with Democrat Al Franken in which energy issues have become a flashpoint.
Franken has said oil companies should develop the offshore leases they already have.
