Energy Bill a No-Go in the Senate
By DAVID M. HERSZEHORN Senate Democrats on Tuesday abandoned all hopes of passing even a slimmed-down energy bill before they adjourn for the summer recess, saying that they did not have sufficient votes even for legislation tailored narrowly to respond to the Gulf oil spill.
Although the majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, sought to blame Republicans for sinking the energy measure, the reality is that Democrats are also divided over how to proceed on the issue and had long ago given up hope of a comprehensive bill to address climate change.
Senate Democrats still hoping to pass legislation to aid small businesses with tax breaks and expanded loan programs, as well as to approve aid to states for Medicaid and to help prevent teacher layoffs. But their once ambitious agenda ahead of the summer recess, which begins at the end of this week, has shriveled.
Still, the Obama administration sought to lend some muscle in trying to advance the small business measure. At a briefing at the White House, David Axlerod, President Obama’s senior adviser, and Gene Sperling, counselor to Treasury secretary Timothy F. Geithner, warned that Republicans would pay a political price if they block the bill.
Mr. Axelrod said that small businesses have been hit harder by the economic downturn than big corporation and needed government help. “Make no mistake, it will be an issue if politics intrudes on what we need to do,” he said.
But at the Capitol there were no indications that Senate Democrats were faring any better than last week when Republicans blocked the small business bill after a procedural fight over how many amendments they could offer.
At a news conference to announce his decision on the energy legislation, Mr. Reid said, “Since Republicans refuse to move forward with any meaningful debate, we’ll postpone tomorrow’s votes on energy until after the recess.” He said that alternative legislation proposed by the Republicans was insufficient.
“The Democrats can’t and shouldn’t vote for a Republican bill that doesn’t hold BP accountable for the enormous economic damages it caused to our Gulf Coast communities,” Mr. Reid said. “Their bill doesn’t create a single job, doesn’t do anything to end our addiction to foreign oil.”
Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, who has worked to draft comprehensive energy legislation, said he supported Mr. Reid’s decision.
“Ask anyone outside of Washington, and they’ll tell you that this isn’t a Democrat or a Republican issue, it’s an American issue,” Mr. Kerry said. “It’s American troops whose lives are endangered because we’re dependent on oil companies in countries that hate us. It’s American consumers who are tired not just of prices at the pump that soar each summer, but sick and tired of our oil dependency that makes Iran $100 million richer every day that Washington fails to respond.”
The House approved comprehensive climate change legislation last year. And last week, before adjourning for its summer recess, the House approved a package of legislation responding to the Gulf spill, including a raising of the cap on liabilities for oil companies and a reorganization of the Minerals and Management Service within the Department of Interior.
Although the majority leader, Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada, sought to blame Republicans for sinking the energy measure, the reality is that Democrats are also divided over how to proceed on the issue and had long ago given up hope of a comprehensive bill to address climate change.
Senate Democrats still hoping to pass legislation to aid small businesses with tax breaks and expanded loan programs, as well as to approve aid to states for Medicaid and to help prevent teacher layoffs. But their once ambitious agenda ahead of the summer recess, which begins at the end of this week, has shriveled.
Still, the Obama administration sought to lend some muscle in trying to advance the small business measure. At a briefing at the White House, David Axlerod, President Obama’s senior adviser, and Gene Sperling, counselor to Treasury secretary Timothy F. Geithner, warned that Republicans would pay a political price if they block the bill.
Mr. Axelrod said that small businesses have been hit harder by the economic downturn than big corporation and needed government help. “Make no mistake, it will be an issue if politics intrudes on what we need to do,” he said.
But at the Capitol there were no indications that Senate Democrats were faring any better than last week when Republicans blocked the small business bill after a procedural fight over how many amendments they could offer.
At a news conference to announce his decision on the energy legislation, Mr. Reid said, “Since Republicans refuse to move forward with any meaningful debate, we’ll postpone tomorrow’s votes on energy until after the recess.” He said that alternative legislation proposed by the Republicans was insufficient.
“The Democrats can’t and shouldn’t vote for a Republican bill that doesn’t hold BP accountable for the enormous economic damages it caused to our Gulf Coast communities,” Mr. Reid said. “Their bill doesn’t create a single job, doesn’t do anything to end our addiction to foreign oil.”
Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, who has worked to draft comprehensive energy legislation, said he supported Mr. Reid’s decision.
“Ask anyone outside of Washington, and they’ll tell you that this isn’t a Democrat or a Republican issue, it’s an American issue,” Mr. Kerry said. “It’s American troops whose lives are endangered because we’re dependent on oil companies in countries that hate us. It’s American consumers who are tired not just of prices at the pump that soar each summer, but sick and tired of our oil dependency that makes Iran $100 million richer every day that Washington fails to respond.”
The House approved comprehensive climate change legislation last year. And last week, before adjourning for its summer recess, the House approved a package of legislation responding to the Gulf spill, including a raising of the cap on liabilities for oil companies and a reorganization of the Minerals and Management Service within the Department of Interior.
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