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Opponents block energy bill in Senate
(H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press, November 21, 2003)
Opponents of a massive energy bill on Friday blocked the Senate from taking a final vote and sending the measure to President Bush. . . . On a 57-40 vote, supporters failed by three votes to cut off debate on the legislation. . . . Opponents of the bill waged a frantic campaign for votes to derail the legislation, arguing the $31 billion bill -- crafted largely in closed-door Republican negotiations with the House -- was too expensive and amounted to a collection of subsidies to special interests. . . . Approval of an energy bill has been a top priority for President Bush, who repeatedly called on Congress to finish the legislation this year. . . . As opponents to the bill appeared to gain strength, Vice President Dick Cheney began calling GOP senators urging them not to abandon the president on the issue. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, a former senator from Michigan, was dispatched to Capitol Hill in the hours before the voting. . . . But a growing number of senators -- both Democrats and at least six Republicans -- criticized the bill as too costly, a giveaway to energy industries, and bad for the environment. . . . A particular target was a provision that would shield manufacturers of the gasoline additive MTBE from product liability lawsuits. The issue was key in getting five GOP senators from New England, where MTBE contamination of water supplies has been a major concern, to oppose the legislation. . . . The bill has "glaring examples of industry favors," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., another opponent. He called it a "Thanksgiving turkey" stuffed with goodies for special interests. . . . Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., also objected to the bill's price tag -- an estimated $31 billion over 10 years -- arguing that the measure exceeds the congressional budget ceiling. . . . Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said there were some good things in the bill, but he strongly opposed provisions to mandate use of corn-based ethanol in gasoline nationwide and the bill's handling of MTBE. . . . Democrats also objected to the way the bill had been crafted -- largely behind closed doors in negotiations among Senate and House Republicans. . . . "It really doesn't help the Senate to prolong the inevitable. The inevitable is this bill is history. It's not going to go any place," said Sen. Harry Reid, the Senate Democratic whip. . . . The bill contains hundreds of items sought by energy lobbyists, including tax breaks for oil, gas, coal and nuclear industries, plus tax credits for renewable energy and conservation. . . .
Among its major provisions:

* Tax breaks of $13 billion for oil, gas and coal industries

* A requirement to double ethanol production for gasoline to 5 billion gallons a year by 2012.

* Authority and financial help, including $18 billion in loan guarantees, to build a pipeline to bring natural gas from Alaska's North Slope.

* A requirement to speed up permits and ease some environmental rules to promote energy development on public lands.

posted by Lorenzo 10:04 AM