Pelosi joins Democrats softening their stance against offshore drilling

One proposal under consideration would let states decide whether to permit new energy exploration off their coasts while possibly maintaining the drilling ban off the Pacific Coast, according to a House leadership aide who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of ongoing negotiations.

Pelosi has long opposed lifting the drilling ban but has come under pressure from members of her own party -- including freshmen in tough reelection campaigns -- to allow a vote on offshore drilling. Adding to that, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama recently said that he would be open to limited offshore drilling if it was part of a broader energy compromise.

A vote is likely to be held next month, after the House returns from its summer recess.

What exactly would be voted on was still being discussed Wednesday. Democrats are expected to insist that any bill include some of their priorities, such as the repeal of oil industry tax breaks and a requirement that utilities generate more electricity from cleaner energy sources.

Those measures, which have drawn GOP opposition, could complicate the passage of any measure. That is especially true in an election year, with time running out on the congressional session and partisan tensions running high.

Pelosi said on CNN's "Larry King Live" this week that she would consider a vote on offshore drilling but that "it has to be part of something that says we want to bring immediate relief to the public and not just a hoax" -- part of a broader package that would probably include investment in alternative energy sources, releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and targeting speculation in energy markets.

Pro-drilling forces remained suspicious.

"Just because a bill comes to the floor with 'offshore' and 'energy' in the title doesn't mean it's a good offshore drilling bill," said Brian Kennedy, a former House Republican leadership aide who is now with the Institute for Energy Research, a Washington group that promotes free-market energy policies. "Speaker Pelosi is only going to schedule a vote on an offshore energy bill if she believes it would be politically perilous not to, and even then it's not going to have much energy in it."