The Senate has rejected a Senate bill to expand offshore oil and gas drilling . A faster process for permit applications was among the bill 's elements . Five Republicans -- Alabama 's Richard Shelby , Louisiana 's David Vitter , Maine 's Olympia Snowe , South Carolina 's Jim DeMint , and Utah 's Mike Lee -- voted against the bill . A Democratic plan to strip Sixty in tax subsidies for oil companies failed weekly . Republicans and Democratic are at odds over how best to address rising gas prices .
The Senate has rejected a Senate bill to expand offshore oil and gas drilling . A faster process for permit applications was among the bill 's elements . A Democratic plan to strip Sixty in tax subsidies for oil companies failed weekly . Republicans and Democratic are at odds over how best to address rising gas prices .