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Pelosi rolls out energy package |
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By Mike Soraghan
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Posted: 06/29/07 07:14 PM [ET] |
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) rolled out her “energy independence” package yesterday with a show of unity that masked the deep divisions on the issue.
“We Democrats are declaring independence from foreign oil,” said Pelosi, flanked by a host of committee chairmen and leaders.
The bill is expected to hit the floor in July, after appropriations measures are finished.
The bill would set new efficiency standards for appliances, but not vehicles; increase funding for renewable fuels; and eliminate the often-criticized royalty-in-kind program, among other measures.
Republicans have derided the bill as an energy bill with no new energy.
“Should they insist on energy legislation that contains no new American energy, we will ask the president to veto it and we will commit to upholding his veto until it does,” House Republican leaders said in a joint statement.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) sparred with Pelosi behind the scenes on what air pollution and auto mileage language to include.
At yesterday’s news event, Dingell congratulated Pelosi, but noted that issues such as mileage standards, coal and nuclear resources are likely to surface in the fall when the House works on climate-change legislation.
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