A House appropriations subcommittee Wednesday approved by voice vote a $32.3 billion spending bill for the Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and related agencies for fiscal year 2010. The measure did not — to producers’ benefit — include a $122 million fee favored by the Obama administration to force the development of existing nonproducing leases in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). But the respite may only be temporary.
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Senate Confirms Hayes as Interior Deputy Secretary
The Senate last Wednesday approved by voice vote the nomination of David Hayes to be deputy secretary of the Department of Interior after Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska released their holds on the nominee. The release of the holds signaled a cease fire between the Republican senators and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar over the administration’s energy policy.
Senate Confirms Hayes as Interior Deputy Secretary
The Senate approved by voice vote the nomination of David Hayes to be deputy secretary of the Department of Interior after Republican Sens. Robert Bennett of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska released their holds on the nominee.
House Panel Votes to Give CFTC Criminal Prosecution Authority
The House Agriculture Committee last Thursday approved by voice vote legislation that would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the authority to carry out criminal prosecution of fraud and manipulation of commodity futures markets, but only in cases where the Department of Justice decides not to take action. The CFTC’s existing authority is limited to investigation and prosecution of administrative and civil violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).
House Panel Votes to Give CFTC Criminal Prosecution Authority
The House Agriculture Committee Thursday approved by voice vote legislation that would give the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the authority to carry out criminal prosecution of fraud and manipulation of commodity futures markets, but only in cases where the Department of Justice decides not to take action (see Daily GPI, Feb. 12). The CFTC’s existing authority is limited to investigation and prosecution of administrative and civil violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA).
Resolution Clears Constitutional Snag for Interior Nominee Salazar
The House Wednesday approved by voice vote a resolution that clears the way for Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) to become secretary of the Interior Department under an Obama administration.
House Sees Energy Conference Report by Mid-November
While some Republicans continued to voice their opposition to the closed-door talks on the House and Senate energy bills, House leaders said a conference report reconciling the two measures could be completed by as early as mid-November, according to committee aides.
ConocoPhillips, Petro-Can, Talisman Pan Alberta Royalty Scheme
Representatives of some of Canada’s largest investor groups met privately with Alberta officials on Friday to voice concerns about the proposed changes to the province’s oil and natural gas royalty regime. Meanwhile, ConocoPhillips joined the growing number of dissenters and said it may cut its Canadian investments next year.
Bill May Make It Tougher for Foreign Purchases of U.S. Energy Assets
The Senate last week passed by voice vote legislation that could make it tougher for foreign companies to buy U.S. electric power companies and other domestic energy assets.
House Defeats Effort to Lift Congressional Drilling Ban
The House Tuesday defeated by voice vote a Republican amendment that sought to lift the 25-year-old congressional moratorium on oil and natural gas drilling 100 miles off U.S. coastlines.