Key GOP Senators Endorse Energy Bill, Assure Passage
by Brody Mullins
CongressDaily PM
Senior GOP senators today endorsed the energy legislation pending on the Senate floor, even though they believe the bill falls well short of meeting their main goal: boosting domestic production of oil and natural gas.
Comments from key Senate Republicans effectively guarantee that the Senate will approve the bill Thursday evening after more than two months of debate. The bill is not a "great new production bill," but it "is worth conferencing and sending to the president's desk," Republican Policy Committee Chairman Larry Craig of Idaho told reporters this afternoon. Despite its shortfalls, Craig said, the bill represents "a move forward on energy policy in this country."
Energy and Natural Resources ranking member Frank Murkowski, R- Alaska, said he was pleased with the outcome of the energy debate, even though senators rejected his amendment to permit oil drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "We started with a less than desirable bill and ended up with a more desirable bill," he said. "I think it's worth passing."
The Republican endorsements are important because they show that the Senate GOP leadership is lining up behind the bill after a turbulent, two-month debate. On Tuesday, Minority Leader Lott and Minority Whip Nickles each said they would vote for the bill on final passage despite their opposition to important elements. Each of the Republicans said they hoped to "improve" the bill in a conference committee with competing legislation approved last year by the Republican-led House.
The Bush administration also has said it wants to merge the bills. "There is a very real desire to get it out of conference," Craig said. Republicans generally believe the Senate version of the bill does not do enough to increase U.S. production of oil and natural gas. Murkowski indicated that he may try to revive his ANWR proposal in conference. "We'll see whether we might have another opportunity to address" ANWR, he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate continued discarding amendments today as it closes in on a final vote. On a 58-39 vote, the Senate rejected an amendment offered by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that would give federal regulators more power to protect consumers in the newly restructured electricity marketplace. The amendment was partly a reaction to the electricity crisis in the West last year.
Other major amendments remaining include a provision to force the auto industry to produce more energy- efficient vehicles. The provision, offered by Sens. Thomas Carper, D-Del., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., would require the Transportation Department to craft rules for the transportation sector that would save 1 million barrels of oil per day by 2015. Earlier this year, the Senate blocked an effort by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., to require a 50 percent increase in mileage standards for cars and light trucks.
