As we mentioned in a previous update, a 2006 law would send more revenues to coastal states for protecting coastlines, but the bulk of the money doesn't reach states until 2017.

Legislators from several coastal states, particularly Louisiana, have tried numerous times to accelerate that timetable. But to date, those efforts have failed.

On July 21, 2011, the Senate Energy Committee considered an amendment to offshore drilling safety legislation (S 917) by Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., to move up (from 2017 to 2015) oil and gas royalty payments to coastal states such as Louisiana. "Every 30 seconds we lose a football field of land" due to coastal erosion, Landrieu said. "We are in a desperate race against time to save our coast."

But the committee adjourned without voting on Landrieu's amendment.

The revenue-sharing proposals have been strongly opposed by committee chair Sen. Jeff Bingaman, a Democrat from New Mexico.

"To redirect a huge revenue stream to a few states just doesn't make sense," said Bill Wicker, a spokesman for Bingaman. And, he said, "with the government at risk of default, how could anyone seriously consider blasting an enormous new hole in the Treasury, to the tune of many, many, many billions of dollars."

Landrieu and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. also tried an amendment in committee to dedicate 12.5 percent of royalty payments to an alternative energy trust fund for the coastal states. But the proposal was defeated 12-10.

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, even if the amendment were offered again on the floor "the defeat made it unlikely there would be a majority vote for the Landrieu-Murkowski revenue-sharing proposal."

Revenue sharing was also was talked about last year in relation to a climate change bill that never made it to the floor.

Wicker said he wasn't aware of any other proposed legislation aimed at directing offshore drilling revenues to coastal restoration. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, much of the attention on coastal restoration has been focused on making sure BP pays for any damage the spill caused to coastal areas, he said.

For her part, Landrieu isn't giving up.

"Despite the chairman's adamant opposition, there are members on the Democratic side and many members on the Republican side that seem to me willing to move forward; that is really the good news," Landrieu said. " "...We live to fight another day."

Perhaps. But two and a half years into Obama's presidency, this promise hasn't yet gained enough traction to move forward, despite repeated efforts from Louisiana lawmakers (and others). Landrieu and other coastal legislators haven't given up, so we're reluctant to call this promise broken. But it is Stalled.