Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D) of Illinois and Sen. Charles Schumer (D) of New York dismissed any concerns about Webb’s stance, saying they did not notice his proposal Wednesday. Durbin, however, pointedly rejected Webb’s argument that states should have the right to make drilling decisions.

The legislation “offers a preliminary step toward exploration and development of one of our domestic energy sources,” Webb said. “In order to address our nation’s energy crisis, all options need to be on the table.”

One of Virginia’s most prominent environmental groups also opposes Webb’s idea, saying there is no plausible environmental distinction between gas and oil drilling and that any environmental damage would spread far beyond Virginia’s coast.

“This puts the camel’s nose under the tent,” said Glen Besa, director of the Virginia chapter of the Sierra Club.

I guess he won't be on the ticket. I wonder if these environmentalist know that the likely hood of an oil spill is 13 times greater coming from a tanker than from offshore drilling. The entire gulf coast was hit in Katrina and not one of the rigs spilled a drop.