Katie Valentine of Think Progress reports that a Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Bill Stalls Again, Along With Keystone Vote, due to G.O.P. political maneuvering. The “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act" supported by both parties, as well as several industry and consumer groups looks as if it will die in the Senate next week, held hostage by Republicans trying to attach five amendments to it, including one to force a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline and an anti-EPA measure.
As E&E News reports, Majority Leader Harry Reid took steps on Wednesday to block five Republican amendments the the Shaheen-Portman bill. The amendments included ones to speed up natural gas exports and oppose EPA regulations on future power plants. Since the amendments aren’t getting attached to the bill, Republicans have rejected the offer to vote in favor of the bill in return for a vote on Keystone XL.
“Republican Senators, wanting to pass this bipartisan bill, asked me to bring the bill to a vote as soon as possible -– as is,” Reid said in an emailed statement to ThinkProgress. “For those Republicans acting in good faith, passage of the energy efficiency legislation was the most important thing. Unfortunately, though, the obstructionist wing of the Republican caucus decided once again to block the bill.”
Now, the Shaheen-Portman bill will move to a procedural vote to end debate on the legislation Monday evening, which will require 60 votes — a tally that it appears won’t be met. This is the second time that disagreements over Republican amendments have stalled Shaheen and Portman’s “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act,” which aims to increase energy efficiency in residential, commercial and federally-owned buildings, increase conservation efforts and train workers to be better prepared to work with energy-saving technologies.
Jeanne Shaheen(D-NH) has said, “It’s part of an energy plan for America that can help bring the jobs back, help fix our trade deficit, help make our manufacturers more competitive, and actually help to protect the environment.”
Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) said he has offered the Republicans a Keystone XL vote in return for passage of the Shaheen-Portman bill. They apparently want more.
