"Use it or lose it" is often heard in this debate. It refers to leases available or held by oil companies on federal government-owned land. But drilling is blocked on every one of the 746 existing leases by lawsuits initiated by environmental organizations, the Sierra Club, EarthJustice, and others. Drilling of leases is also blocked in the Outer Continental Shelf. Not one offshore lease has escaped litigation, The oil companies must pay the government annually for the leases.

Mr. Murphy, representing the Democrats, says the bill is "comprehensive." But it has no refineries, no lawsuit reform, no nuclear energy, no development of shale oil resources, no clean coal, no royalties, increased taxes on oil firms. Republicans say that this bill is a hoax, doesn't produce any energy, and is more about politics than policy. Take your pick.

MURPHY AND THE ENERGY BILL, VICTORY OR HOAX