Progressive Energy Bill Faces Veto Threat

Prospects for a stronger energy bill brightened Saturday, as the House passed a version requiring 15% of our electricity to come from renewable sources, and funding more renewable energy by repealing tax breaks for Big Oil.

Conservatives had kept those provisions off the Senate bill by wielding the filibuster. But afterwards, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he had the 60 votes needed to break any filibuster.

So the prospects for more renewable energy are good, although corporate interests will be trying to kill the key provisions when House and Senate negotiators craft the final bill. (As The Daily Green notes, "The real work starts now.")

Conversely, the House avoided a vote on increasing automobile fuel-efficiency standards. But as the Senate did raise it to 35 MPG in its bill, the issue remains alive.

Some of those House members nonsensically skittish about a mild hike in standards may nonetheless be reluctant to vote against the overall bill and tell their constituents they stopped progress towards energy independence.

However, President Bush has issued separate veto threats to both the House and Senate energy bills.

Once again, congressional leaders have to decide.

Make the bill meaningless in order to get Bush's signature? Or rally voters behind strong legislation, and force Bush and his conservative enablers to choose between responding to the public will, or obstructing it.

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