UpdateNPRA ’08: Elections no threat to policy talks

31 March 2008 18:19  [Source: ICIS news]

(adds video interview with Drevna)

SAN ANTONIO, Texas (ICIS news)--Looming political change in the US should not interfere with talks over proposed legislation that could endanger the country’s security and economy, NPRA president Charlie Drevna said on Monday.

“It doesn’t matter who is in office,” Drevna said in an interview at the 33rd National Petrochemical and Refiners Association meeting.

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It is an election year in the US and there is an expectation among political analysts that the Democratic Party could gain more seats in both houses of Congress and possibly win the White House. The Democrats have a one seat majority in the Senate and a more comfortable majority in House.

Their narrow lead in the Senate makes it difficult for the Democrats to pass pending legislation on climate change and broader chemical site security requirements that would face a veto by Republican President George Bush.

However, analysts expect that with a Democrat in the White House and broader Democrat control in Congress next year, the US chemicals industry could be forced to contend with a flood of new and hostile legislation.

Drevna said the outcome of the elections is not the driving force for industry discussions with policymakers, and that he hopes a “technical and scientific approach” will prevail regardless of which party controls Congress or the White House.

The meeting that runs through Tuesday in San Antonio, Texas.

By: John Waggoner
+1 713 525 2653

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