New Energy Bill Faces Tough Road

• By Sen. Jeff Bingaman
• Roll Call Staff
• Feb. 20, 2004, 11:27 a.m.

Just before the Presidents Day recess, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) began the process of placing a new energy bill (S.2095) on the Senate calendar. Once this process is complete, the bill will be available for consideration by the full Senate. It is hard to see, though, how this “new” bill will move Congress closer to enacting energy legislation. House Republicans reportedly will not accept a new comprehensive bill from the Senate, and S. 2095 apparently costs 50 percent to 75 percent more than the Bush administration says it will support. Passing such a bill could well set off a protracted finger-pointing match between the two houses. That would stymie forward progress on any of the provisions contained in S. 2095, even the ones that have broad bipartisan support in both Houses. I do not think such an outcome would be in the national interest.