Apparent Bush victory may give new life to energy bill: Sources
Washington (Platts)--3Nov2004
President Bush's apparent election victory is likely to encourage congressional Republicans to mount another push for a comprehensive energy bill either during a lame-duck session this month, or when the new Congress with a stronger Republican majority convenes in January, energy industry sources said Wednesday. With Republicans expected to gain at least three seats in the Senate and a handful in the House, sources said the majority will push hard for a broad energy bill. Sources from both parties agreed, however, that the Senate margin is not filibuster-proof and the issue that stopped the energy bill since last year--liability protection for makers of gasoline additive MTBE--could still be a roadblock. Democrats "will rally like hell" to keep the majority from trying to move the energy bill in the lame duck session, said one industry source. If if that happens, Republicans "will be back with a vengeance next year with more of their agenda," including opening the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge and support for fossil and nuclear power. Although the Bush administration has proposed regulations on power plant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury, sources said the White House may try another run at Congress with its "Clear Skies" legislation to do the same with less threat of lawsuits that are expected to tie up the regulations for years. Key Republican lawmakers who declined to take up the president's bill last year or this year may be ready to try again since the elections are behind them, said one industry representative. But another industry lobbyist noted that there may be no significant change on the environmental committees. "It is still very tough," he said. "Senate environmental issues don't break down cleanly on party lines. It's going to be very, very hard to move any environmental bill."
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