Energy independence is not a Democrat Party goal, despite what you may have been told.  According to Amanda Carpenter at Townhall.com Harry Reid has advanced his $10 billion land grab.  According to the article:

“Basically, by using “federal wilderness” laws and other environental designations, the Democratic Congress is locking-up energy-rich domestic lands. Instead of putting a new energy ban in place, they are just going to let the federal government absorb them so they’ll never be developed.”

The bill will now be sent to the House of Representatives where hopefully the House Republicans wil ammend it.  However, with the new rule changes Nancy Pelosi has put in place, that will be extremely difficult. 

It seems to me that in a time of economic crisis, the exploration and development of America’s own natural resources would be a wonderful way to help the economy.  I really do wonder why the Democrats have such a hard time with that concept.