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Durbin: Leadership will make final calls on energy |
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By Manu Raju
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Posted: 10/17/07 07:47 PM [ET] |
A senior Senate Democrat on Tuesday said bicameral negotiations over some of the most contentious issues in the pending energy bill would be left to his party’s leadership — rather than the Democratic committee chairmen who helped write the legislation.
Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said that it would be easier to broker a deal if negotiations over an increase in automotive efficiency standards and renewable energy requirements for power plants were left to the leadership, rather than the slew of House committee chairmen and several Senate chairmen who would be involved in those discussions.
When asked about the leadership’s rationale for moving ahead in that manner, he said, “It’s a big group,” referring to the 11 or so House chairmen who would be involved.
The negotiations come as Democrats signal they will attempt to merge two vastly different energy bills on an informal basis, rather than convene a formal bicameral conference committee. On the big-ticket items — which include a major tax incentive package in the House bill, the Senate’s inclusion of an auto fuel efficiency increase and the House’s language to require 15 percent of the country’s energy to include renewable sources by 2020 — the leadership plans to take the lead, according to aides.
That could limit the involvement of powerful Democratic Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, who chairs the Energy and Commerce Committee and has opposed language in the Senate bill that would increase fuel efficiency standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 for cars and light trucks. House leadership has vowed a final package will include language similar to that of the Senate’s plan.
Dingell said in a statement that he is “committed” to working with congressional leadership “to achieve a positive resolution on all issues.”
Democratic aides say the leadership is aware of the positions of the various committee chairmen, and say those members will be engaged as the negotiations progress.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday he would try to convene a formal conference committee, but signaled he would seek to move the bill informally if objections — as expected — are raised.
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