Reid on immigration and energy: ‘I'm not going to be saying that one is more important than the other’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that the Senate intends to move ahead on energy legislation this year but declined to say whether it is a higher priority than immigration reform.

His comments come amid signs that Capitol Hill Democrats may revive efforts to move immigration legislation.

"We have to do something on energy, energy is an important part of the legislation that we have to do and we're going to do that this year.  Immigration is something we really have to do, that's something that is – the system is broken,” Reid said at a briefing with reporters in the Capitol.

“I'm not going to be saying that one is more important than the other,” he added.

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) intend to unveil a broad energy and climate change measure on Monday, April 26. But Graham told reporters Thursday that they are still grappling with how to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.

“The transportation sector is a problem. We are just dealing with that. I’m being honest with you – it’s a problem,” he said.

Graham confirmed that the trio have moved away from planning a so-called linked fee to address emissions from motor fuels.

Earlier discussions had involved a fee paid by petroleum companies – one “linked” to the price of carbon permits under the greenhouse gas limits applied to electric power plants.

“The linked fee proposal had its day and it’s not selling,” Graham said. “There are other ways to do this on the transportation sector and we are looking at those ways.”

Alexander Bolton contributed.