Republicans consider blocking drilling ban

WASHINGTON, July 15 (UPI) -- Senate Republicans are considering whether to block a resolution that would keep in place the ban on oil drilling off the U.S. coasts, a GOP senator said.

The ban on offshore drilling ban is folded into the annual appropriations bill for the Interior Department and other environmental agencies, The Hill reported Tuesday.

The Washington newspaper said since the federal government's 12 annual spending bills are unlikely to be passed before the start of the new fiscal year in October, a special measure will need to be passed to keep the oil drilling ban in effect.

President George Bush Monday removed an executive order that prevented drilling along the coasts. But to allow oil companies access to wider offshore areas, the offshore ban would need to be lifted by Congress.

Republicans said they may block the continuing resolution to allow expanded drilling along the coastal United States.

"We are first going to deal with the measure on the floor of the Senate," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky. "And we'll take it one step at a time. But you're right. The current congressional moratorium is enacted on a year-by-year basis."

Democrats say oil companies should first drill on the 68 million acres of land available to them.