House Passes Energy Legislation

The House of Representatives passed an energy legislation that will cut tax breaks to oil companies and requires the automotive industry to increase fuel economy 40% to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.The bill will also mandate that electric utility companies generate 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources of energy such as wind, biomass or solar power by 2020. That mandate, and the tax breaks, were dealbreakers with the White House, who threatens to veto it.

The bill got the support of 14 Republicans;
Mary Bono (R-California)
Mike Castle (R-Delaware)
Jim Gerlach (R-Pennsylvania)
Robin Hayes (R-North Carolina)
Tim Johnson (R-Illinois)
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
Ray LaHood (R-Illinois)
Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey)
Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota)
Dave Reichert (R-Washington)
Illeana Ros-Lehitnen (R-Florida)
Christopher Shays (R-Connecticut)
Chris Smith (R-New Jersey)
Greg Walden (R-Oregon)

7 Democrats opposed the bill, mostly from Southern oil states;
John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)
Allen Boyd (D-Florida)
Gene Green (D-Texas)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Jim Marshall (D-Georgia)
Charlie Melacon (D-Louisiana)

Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell warn the bill may not get passed the Senate, for no other reason than the Republicans will filibuster...again. Reid is ordering the parade of Presidential candidates back to Washington for the vote.

Democrats To Pass Energy Legislation

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has struck a deal with Michigan Democrats in a new energy bill that will increase fuel economy standards by 40% by 2020;

Automakers would be required to meet an industrywide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars and light trucks, including SUVs, by 2020, the first increase by Congress in car fuel efficiency in 32 years.

Republicans protested the bill because it did not include funding for domestic oil drilling and production. Pelosi stated she hoped the bill would push for alternative forms of energy and renweable energy.

The bill is expected to pass the House and Senate and go to the President desk, and what he does is still in question.

House Goes Green

The House stayed in session one more day today and passed their own energy policy that reallocates $16 billion from oil companies to renewable energy.

The President is threatening the veto.

11 Democrats opposed the bill, notice from where;

John Barrow (D-Georgia)
Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)
Henry Cuellar (D-Texas)
Chet Edwards (D-Texas)
Charlie Gonzalez (D-Texas)
Gene Green (D-Texas)
Nick Lampson (D-Texas)
Jim Matheson (D-Utah)
Charlie Melacon (D-Louisiana)
Solomon Ortiz (D-Texas)
Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas)

9 Republicans supported it;

Mike Castle (R-Delaware)
Mike Ferguson (R-New Jersey)
Wayne Gilchrest (R-Maryland)
Mark Kirk (R-Illinois)
Frank LoBiondo (R-New Jersey)
Jim Ramstad (R-Minnesota)
Dave Reichert (R-Washington)
Chris Shays (R-Connecticut)
Chris Smith (R-New Jersey)