(Adds failed Senate vote to limit tariff bill debate) By Chris Baltimore
WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - The Senate's Democratic leader on Wednesday said
he opposes a Republican plan to pull about $13 billion in tax incentives from a
stalled energy bill and attach them to separate legislation on tariffs. Earlier
The comprehensive package could pass the Senate with 60 votes this week if Republicans call a vote, Daschle said. Republican leaders have taken a two-pronged approach to the energy bill, hoping to secure quick passage of tax incentives meant to spur programs like a $20 billion pipeline to carry natural gas from Alaska to the lower 48 states. The move splits the stalled energy bill in two. While attaching the tax incentives to the tariff bill, it will strand provisions to boost electricity reliability rules, double the use of corn-based ethanol in gasoline and repeal Depression-era rules that limit utility mergers.
It could open the way for speedy consideration of the tax provisions originally in the energy bill, which include incentives for energy companies to build more wind, solar and clean coal generation. Republican leaders have reinserted a controversial plan to reimburse the pipeline's owners if the price of natural gas dips below $1.35 per thousand cubic feet. The White House and the Canadian government oppose the so-called price floor, saying it offers suppliers a production incentive that could distort prices.