Washington (Platts)--8Sep2008

US Senate Democratic leaders are hoping to bring a broad energy bill to
the floor as early as next week, Senate aides said on Monday.

Still undecided is whether Democrats will use as a base bill a measure by
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's designed to curb speculation in oil and
natural gas markets or a bipartisan compromise written by 16 Senate Democrats
and Republicans that would combine some new drilling on the Outer Continental
Shelf with increased support for conservation and renewable energy.

The energy bill will be brought to the floor after a Friday energy
"summit" coordinated by Reid and Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff
Bingaman, Democrat-New Mexico.

Before the Senate adjourned in early August for a five-week summer
recess, Republican members had blocked Democrats from taking up any other
legislation after they blocked consideration of the anti-speculation bill as
part of an effort to advocate increased drilling in the OCS and onshore areas
now off-limits to energy development.

Republicans may now be willing, however, to allow the Senate to vote on
other measures, several Democratic aides said.

Joe Shoemaker, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin,
Democrat-Illinois, said he expects the Senate will vote later Monday to
proceed to debate a defense spending bill.

Reid spokesman Stephen Krupin added that Republicans have "indicated that
they're not going to filibuster" the defense authorization bill.

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's office said the leader had not yet
decided Monday whether to end the filibuster.

--Jean Chemnick, jean_chemnick@platts.com