Dec 10, 2003

Energy Bill–Getting the Kinks Worked OutSource: Reuters

In an effort to help add resources and effective alternatives to the current energy, the, Bush administration recently announced that it was considering a number of options for ending the current congressional dispute over a controversial gasoline fuel additive, to try to pass a $31 billion energy bill early next year, according to Reuters.

In the final days before the winter recess, the Senate put the bill on hold because of a provision that would prevent oil companies that make the MTBE, an additive that contaminates underground drinking water supplies, fuel additive from lawsuits. Members blocked the vote because they feared the bill would unfairly protect the producers of MTBE, according to Reuters. Currently, a number of states are working on phasing out the additive because there have been lawsuits regarding the topic.

The administration is trying to find ways to remedy this problem in order to get the successful passing of the bill when Congress returns in late January. The House has already passed the bill, so it is left on the hands of the Senate currently.

The bill was two votes shy of passing in late November not being able to get the necessary 60 votes from the 100-member Senate to end the debate on the legislation and take a final vote.

There are still a number of concerns regarding the bill including the high price of the energy bill that is being asked for, which includes around $25 billion in tax breaks and incentives for increased production of oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear power and renewable energy.

However, in another recent Reuters report, the GOP Leader is predicting that the bill will pass without a need to strip out vital provisions like ethanol incentives and power grid reliability. There are a number of people that are fighting to get this bill passed to not only better government energy problems but for people and businesses all over the country.