Right now one of the most contentious issues in the state is a plan to build a new set of gigantic transmission lines that will run through West Virginia on their way to carry electricity to the East Coast. This has upset a host of interests in the state, and even our normally business-lovin' local newspaper is opposed to this construction. So it's interesting that when Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) proposed an amendment to bar the Energy Dept. from approving these and other similar lines for a year two of our state's US Representatives voted against it. In fact, it was the two Democrats who voted against blocking the lines, while our Republican representative Shelley Moore Capito voted for it. The vote was 174 for to 257 against, with 90 Democrats voting with most Republicans to block the proposal. Our representative, Mollohan (D-WV), seems to have opposed this because he wants to deal with this issue through authorizing authority, not limiting appropriations. Likely relatedly, Mollohan is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, and may not have wished to oppose his committee on the House floor.
Posted by armand at June 22, 2007 03:19 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Politics | West Virginia