The Energy Bill: Moving Forward
This morning the cloture vote (to end filibuster) on the Energy Bill was defeated 59-40. John McCain was the only Senator not present for the vote. On the democratic side, just one Senator, Mary Landrieu (LA), voted the wrong way, against cloture. On the republican side, nine Senators, Lisa Murkowski (AK), Charles Grassley (IA), Richard Lugar (IN), Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), Norm Coleman (R), Gordon Smith (OR), John Thune (SD), and Orrin Hatch (UT) voted the right way, for cloture.
Fortunately, Senator Reid has promised to "eliminate the tax title" and hopes to get the revised bill approved later today. Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky predicted the revised bill would be approved with wide bipartisan support.
It is unclear whether or not the changes to the bill will satisfy the Bush administration, which has repeatedly threatened to veto the bill.
I'm glad to see you cross posted this at DailyKos. It should have a much broader readership there. I am just incredibly disappointed in Landrieu today. Of all the issues to take a principled stand on, she chooses to vote for Big Oil, for the flooding of New Orleans, and for a future filled with ecological calamities. I just don't see any upside for her legacy from this vote.
Posted by: Common Sense | December 13, 2007 at 12:25 PM