"Oil Spill Bill's Fate Uncertain After Senate Panel's Adjournment"

"The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday ended a markup without taking highly anticipated votes on a plan guaranteeing energy production revenue to coastal states and the underlying offshore drilling safety bill.

The result leaves a highly uncertain future for legislation meant to respond to last year's BP oil spill and codify the Interior Department's overhaul of federal offshore drilling oversight and safety regulations.

"I don't know how we proceed," Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman told reporters after he adjourned the markup.

The panel lost its necessary quorum to hold a vote on the overall bill and on a revenue sharing amendment from Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and panel ranking member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) after Landrieu and eight of the 10 Republicans had left. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) was absent from the entire markup."

Darren Goode reports for Politico July 21, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Drill-Safety Bill Stalls in Revenue-Sharing Fight" (E2 Wire)

"Senate Drilling Safety Measure in Limbo" (Houston Chronicle)

"Contentious Amendments Pile Up for Today's Offshore Drilling Safety Markup in Senate" (Greenwire)