Senate Democrats have not settled on a strategy for the CR yet, according to leadership aides. First they are setting their sights on a series of energy votes scheduled for next week, including a measure supported by 20 senators that would allow four Southeastern states to authorize new offshore drilling off their coasts and open up new lands in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico for oil exploration.
Prospects seem slim for approval of any of those measures.
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said Thursday that Democrats’ suggestion of allowing only three energy votes would not pass muster with the GOP.
“Is this just an opportunity for members to have a cover vote — to vote for something knowing it never becomes law?” he said.
Kyl said the GOP has not yet considered holding up the CR if Democrats don’t allow additional Republican energy proposals to advance.
Forty Senate Republicans have signed on to a letter by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), saying they would “actively oppose” any attempts to extend the offshore drilling ban.
But a number of the signatories say signing the letter does not mean they would vote to block a CR and shut down the government to win the energy fight.
“It does not mean that there is a desire to necessarily shut down government, but just a desire to show we want [the ban] lifted,” said Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
DeMint sees it differently. He said Democrats would suffer the repercussions of a government shutdown because, he said, the public is on the GOP’s side in the fight over gas prices.
“Any Republican would be foolish to vote for a ban on energy after this issue has been so front and center,” DeMint said.
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