U.S. Senate Democrats have promised a series of votes next week on offshore oil drilling as Republicans – including Idaho’s Mike Crapo - agreed to let the Senate proceed on a defense bill that had been bottled up because of partisan disputes over the country’s energy priorities.

Democratic leaders say they are ready to take up two proposals that would allow limited oil and gas drilling 50 miles off Florida’s Gulf coast and in the Atlantic off four southeastern states as well as a broader Republican drilling bill.

The Senate on Monday voted unanimously to move ahead with the defense bill as Republicans abandoned their filibuster on the measure that authorizes $612.5 billion in military spending, including $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Sen. Crapo says the GOP’s move was a break from the pattern established during the past month that Congress was in session.

US Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) comments

The issue of offshore oil drilling gained momentum during the Republican convention where presidential nominee John McCain called for opening currently off-limits waters to energy development as soon as possible. His Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, also has signaled support for some additional expansion of offshore drilling as part of a broader energy package. (AP)