 Legislation that would end a quarter-century ban on drilling in most of the Outer Continental Shelf advanced in the House on Wednesday. The measure would allow oil and gas development in restricted offshore waters unless a state prohibited it. The House Resources Committee approved the legislation in 29-9 vote, and its sponsors say it has a good chance of being approved by the full House But the bill's prospects in the Senate are poor as Florida's two senators — as well as others from coastal states — have threatened to filibuster any legislation that would end the drilling moratorium in most coastal waters outside the western Gulf of Mexico. |