House Says No To Drilling In Gulf

(Seattle Times)The House rejected an attempt late Thursday to end a 25-year ban on oil and natural-gas drilling in 85 percent of the country's coastal waters despite arguments that the new supplies are needed to lower energy costs.

The moratorium bars oil and gas development in virtually all coastal waters outside the western Gulf of Mexico.

A measure to continue the prohibition on drilling for natural gas was approved 217-203. By a 279-141 vote, the House rejected lifting the moratorium on oil drilling.