Opponents of energy bill build steam in Senate (Specter undecided)

[enough]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/7313518.htm

Nov. 21, 2003
Opponents of energy bill build steam in Senate
By Sumana Chatterjee
Inquirer Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Senate opponents of a sprawling energy bill said yesterday that they were one vote shy of having enough votes to defeat the Republican-crafted measure, which President Bush has said he wants to sign.

The Senate will vote today on a motion to shut off debate; the outcome will show whether opponents have a chance to prevent the bill from passing. Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R., N.M.), the measure's primary architect, said that votes were still in play but that he was confident the bill would pass. Still, he conceded, "It's very close."

The intense jockeying over the measure arose in part because opponents say that it is loaded with expensive pork-barrel projects and that it would harm the environment and distort fuel markets by mandating the increased use of ethanol, a corn-based gasoline substitute. Proponents say the legislation would increase U.S. fuel supplies.

The ethanol provisions alone could cost up to $30 billion, Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) said. McCain said that with so many "pork" projects to criticize, he felt like "a mosquito in a nudist colony."

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There is another article today in the Inquirer listing both Specter and Santorum and still undecided on the issue, though both say they will vote to end debate.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/7313542.htm

I just spoke with Specter's environmental staffer, Tom Dower, (202-224-9027) who said that they have been getting a lot of calls and Specter doesn't know how he's going to vote. I can't believe that Santorum will ever vote against Bush, but I suppose it's worth it to call him too.

Also, the Inquirer has an editorial today blasting the bill.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/7313541.htm

Editorial | Energy Bill
Shoot this turkey

The energy bill is a pork-laden industry payoff that promotes yesterday's technology, scars sensitive landscapes, and pushes America further into a budget deficit.

It's a turkey. Senators can talk from now through pumpkin pie next Thursday, and this bill isn't getting any better. They should vote it down.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R., N.M.), who helped shape the final bill, rightly confessed last week that "as soon as you start reading the language, we're duck soup."

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[La_Serpiente]

1. I've been calling my Senators all day

I didn't expect them to be on the undecided Democrats' list.

[tabasco]

2. Friends in PA ! Please email or call Speccter's office !

Specter will do the right thing sometimes.

[e-mail]

[salin]

3. I second this -encourage Spector to resist the cloture vote

are there other waivering senators to whom we should be making calls?

[snippy]

4. But Louisiana needs that new Hooters.

Democrats say energy bill for "Hooters, polluters"

WASHINGTON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Democrats derided the energy bill awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate as a hand-out for "Hooters and polluters" on Wednesday, claiming its lavish tax breaks would even extend to the Hooters restaurant chain that features busty waitresses in tight shirts.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rm/031119/energy_congress_hooters_1.html

[enough]

5. There's a thread in GD now saying it has been "successfully fillibustered"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=751584

The thread contains no link at the moment.