The E&E headline sums it up: "Senate GOP plots ‘war’ over House energy plan" (sub rqd).
It sounds like Pelosi has done her job, restoring to the bill most of the provisions greens have been stumping for, including the RES and removal of some tax breaks from the oil industry:
House Democratic leaders today said the bill will include a roughly $21 billion tax package aimed at expanding renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives. Of that, roughly $13.5 billion in new taxes would be directed at oil companies to help offset the costs, a House Democratic aide said.
That’s not going to go over well in the Senate:
In the Senate, the inclusion of the tax and utility provisions means a likely filibuster. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), the top Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, said the auto mileage and biofuels provisions are "great for America," but he thinks the other two additions sully the bill.
Now the ball is in Harry Reid’s court. Can he muster the 60 votes to overcome a filibuster? This is a serious test of his leadership and I think it’s fair to judge him by the results. Time to throw down.
