–Senate Majority Leader: Want to Finish Work on Small Biz Bill First
–May Also Try to Pass Food Safety Bill Before Energy Debate
–Senate Will Take Up Kagan Nomination Next Week
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday
he will try to begin a formal debate on an energy bill in the coming
days, but declined to say when he expected that debate to begin.
In comments after a Senate Democratic policy luncheon, Reid said he
is trying to complete work on a small business loan package in the next
day or so. Then, he said, he might try to pass a food safety bill and
possibly a nutrition bill before moving to his energy bill.
Reid said he might need 60 votes to even begin the energy debate.
The Senate is expected to begin its summer recess August 6, and is set
to spend most of next week considering the nomination of Elena Kagan to
be an associate justice on the Supreme Court.
Last week, Reid said Senate Democrats would drop their bid to pass
a broad energy and climate bill with a cap-and-trade provision.
Reid is now offering a much narrower package with provisions to
address the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, boosting home energy efficiency,
supporting natural-gas powered vehicles and federal recreation programs.
Reid has said he might bring a broader energy bill to the Senate
floor later in the year with a renewable energy standard and provisions
that would cap greenhouse gases from electric utilities.
But Reid said Tuesday he is skeptical there are now 60 votes to
pass a renewable energy standard provision which would require that an
increasing percentage of electricity come from wind, solar or other
renewable sources.
“Those votes are not there,” Reid said.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
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