I am amazed that Republicans want to kill the Democratic House bill that provides safeguards against unregulated offshore oil drilling for fear of higher prices at the gas pump ("House approves oil spill bill", July 31).

Are these the same Republicans who slammed President Barack Obama for not protecting our nation against the far-reachhing disaster caused by BP's Deepwater Horizon negligence?

Killing the bill offers the American people a trade-off: environmental destruction and thousands of lost jobs vs. cheaper gas at the pumps.

Which American people are stupid enough to buy into that one?

Betsy Goldsborough, Owings Mills