Senate gives approval to energy measure

[Judi Lynn]

June 29, 2005, 12:16AM

Senate gives approval to energy measure
Conservation emphasized more than in House bill
By H. JOSEF HEBERT
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Senate approved an energy bill Tuesday that was more favorable to conservation, wind farms and ethanol and less kind to oil and gas producers than legislation passed by the House.
Whether the sharp differences can be resolved may depend on how much pressure President Bush can bring to bear. The president urged the lawmakers to resolve their differences quickly and send him a bill before August.

Hard bargaining lies ahead, especially with a pesky issue surrounding the gasoline additive MTBE remaining a potential deal breaker — as it was two years ago.

The House, particularly Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Sugar Land, wants to protect oil companies and refiners who produced MTBE from environmental lawsuits brought by communities whose drinking water has been contaminated by the additive. DeLay said an attempt is being made to "come up with a solution" to the MTBE issue but gave no details.

Supporters of the Senate bill, which has broad bipartisan backing and is silent on MTBE, say such liability protection would send the bill to defeat. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said the House needs to work out a compromise on MTBE that can pass Senate muster.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/3245480
(Free registration required)

[punpirate]

1. Expect this bill to be hacked apart in...

... conference committee and voted upon without debate or opportunity to read the changes made therein.

The fix is in. Too many giveaways for the energy industry to be voted down at this juncture, no matter the minor details.

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1588198