Energy Bill Dropped; Budget Concerns Cited

[salin]

Energy Bill Dropped; Budget Concerns Cited

By Dan Morgan and Juliet Eilperin
(c) 2004, The Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- A far-reaching energy bill pending in Congress fell victim Tuesday to rising Republican concerns about the budget deficit, as the Senate's chief sponsor announced he was abandoning efforts to pass it in its present form.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., a key advocate of the bill who chairs the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, said it was "necessary, in light of current deficit numbers, to trim spending every way we can." He said he was ordering his staff to draw up a "leaner" version. It will have to pass muster with the White House and GOP fiscal conservatives, who have objected to the $24 billion in tax breaks and $7 billion in other incentives.

The legislation is the most comprehensive piece of energy legislation since 1992. It would provide benefits to oil and gas drillers, utilities, the coal industry, producers of wind power and, through subsidies for corn-based ethanol fuel, farmers in the Upper Midwest.

An effort to bring it up for a vote last year was narrowly defeated by a bipartisan group of senators who objected to its costs and other provisions. But in the last few weeks, rising GOP worries about the political fallout from soaring deficit numbers has chilled efforts to pass the legislation.

more: http://www.magicvalley.com/news/worldnation/index.asp?StoryID=7381

It is important to note that bush began a push to get this passed in early January - culminating with plugs in the State of the Union Address. Around that time even Sen. Tom Daschle made a pronouncement to deliver on the passage of the bill - IF it could be slightly amended (the bill has big implications on farm states such as his, I can only speculate that his proactive support is tied to his reelection efforts.)

The push from Bush had been taking on a high pitch... speculation being that this was a very visible sign to big donors that he can deliver on his promises to his biggest donors (i.e., the energy industry was among the largest doning group to his 2000 election.) I would add to this speculation that some big funders are realizing that bush policies in the long-run are not great for business... but if they are going to get big short-term gain that it remains worthwhile to keep making huge "investments" (e.g., donations) to Bush.

Then suddenly - a week ago - there was the first indication that the bill might be dropped - and broken up with favorites put into the highway bill. This would be dangerous - as it would be hard to see. Note the following recent thread - scroll to post #6 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=345427

In my opinion, we have to watch this story closely for the following reasons:

1) The key giveaways will be attempted to be pushed through elsewhere - it can't be fought unless it is seen. Part of "our job" as informed citizens is to watch for it and when it appears write many many letters to our congressional folks and LTEs (which the congressional offices monitor) to bring the attempts to revive the bill in other places into full light.

2) If budget concerns are growing so large that suddenly Bush can no longer ram through items that are most important to his agenda (e.g., evidence of Cheney's IMMEDIATE task after taking office was to do the secret energy task force and craft this bill; then in the recent iteration once the bill went to conference committee {and democrat members of that committee locked out} the lobbyists themselves rewrote big swaths of the bill)... then Bush is in very, very big trouble. It shows that suddenly congress would fear reprisals at home MORE than they fear Rove and by extension Tom DeLay.

[pmbryant]

1. So they're going to hide it in the Highway bill

One massive pork-fest hidden under another. Figures.

Thanks for posting this, and thanks even more for the heads up on this tactic.

:hi:

--Peter

[salin]

2. Thanks!

Funny how just following an issue closely for a year and a half - even though starting with zero expertise - can get one very aware of the issues and tactics being used on the Hill.

The interesting thing - is that the highway bill tactics were announced before the Bush veto threat on the highway bill... I don't know if it has or has not been attempted to be slipped in to the bill... wouldn't it really crust *'s supporters if a) they dropped the energy bill - but tried to backdoor goodies into the highway bill; and b) due to intense pressure because of his own economic and budgetary policies he used the highway bill as a symbolic veto - and kills those key energy giveaways by his own hand. Don't see that happening - but it sure would make for an interesting turn of events.

[pmbryant]

3. That would be so interesting that I also think it won't really happen

I strongly suspect these veto threats are just bluster to make it seem like he cares about deficits. In the end, if a double-good highway/energy Pork bill makes it to his desk (and that's likely the only kind that would), he will sign it while proclaiming that his wishes have been met.

:grr:

Of course, if the pressure is high enough, he might in the end be happy to not see any such bill this year, and hope he can push it through early next year if the election (or re-selection) goes well for him.

--Peter

[Just Me]

16. THE HIGHWAY BILL IS ON THE FLOOR NOW!!!

Sorry for screaming.

[salin]

17. It was an important scream - thank you!

wonder if there are any folks who can view it and write about it in GD as it is on air?

[Just Me]

19. Scheduling issues takes it to tomorrow morning,...

,...geez,...sirens were going off *LOL*

[lovedems]

4. This might be a stupid question

but what happens to the investigation into the energy bill and the fact that it is going to go before the supreme court? Does this decision make that irrelevant now? Can Cheney claim that this is now a dead issue since the plan has been shelved? Hey, we don't need to look into this, we aren't going to pass it.

Just curious.

[salin]

5. Fortunately, he can't.

That was a question of the stretch of executive priveledge and open access. Whether the bill gets scuttled or not, the points raised (and the secrecy involved) remain.

I forgot to add, however, that one other big point on the early January push to revive the bill - is specifically the desire to have the bill passed into law before the court ruling in the case that the Supreme Court does not rule in Cheney's favor. Once passed - the case would go on - but would do much less damage to the bill's passage. And since it was Cheney's actions that are questioned, not Bush's - the political fallout (imo) is more localized in the WH political calculation.

Even more so now, than three months ago. As the Halliburton gouging (now on multiple fronts) keeps reappearing in the news - often with a mention that Cheney still is getting compensation (and his denials that he has had any input into the granting of those contracts)... and as the questions about the WMD intel - and his visible role in a) the intel process and b) continuing to pump the specious claims long after they are debunked, the talk of his being dropped from the ticket has been revived.

[lovedems]

8. Thank you!

You did such a wonderful job answering my question! :yourock:

[baby_bear]

11. They are independent issues

The lawsuit is about the process and about open government, not about legislation.

It has legs of its own.

s_m

[underpants]

6. The rip-off well seems to have dried up

Oh no they found some more money in the highway bill....

[aquart]

7. Is it possible that Tom Delay is the one in trouble?

The arms he twisted for Medicare are very sore and very angry. They may not be in the mood to give him anything.

[salin]

9. I am beginning to think

that this might be the case. All the more why we have to watch carefully. If they sneak this load of awful legislation into other places and get it passed - tom is stronger than ever. If all efforts are stymied - I think it is a huge sign of a loosening of his iron grip. If you haven't read the Kutner article in TAP - do so - and read his role in particular carefully. Not so much new as in its stark analysis... and therefor - how - if efforts to revive or backdoor this fail - he is starting to lose that grip.

http://www.prospect.org/print/V15/2/kuttner-r.html

[pmbryant]

13. Everyone here needs to read that article!

Please post it as its own thread if that hasn't been done already.

Our democracy's existence is at stake, and Kuttner explains why extremely thoroughly.

:scared:

--Peter

[salin]

15. link to editorial forum

where i originally found this. Had dropped back - if folks read it and think it is important (which I do) please give it a kick in that forum - to help ensure that it is widely read.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=32413#33028

[Just Me]

21. If Kuttner's reasoning plays out, I feel sorry for our children,...

,...I got to sit down and give the article some study. When one considers the clear intent of this cabal to wield power for purely personal purposes in addition to Kuttner's reality check with respect to the fateful series of events over the last twenty years, one cannot doubt that another form of fascism is on the horizon.

[cally]

10. Maybe the fiscal conservatives

are finally refusing to go along with pork barrel legislation. This party votes in unity most times, but several Senators have recently indicated they are worried about the deficit. Maybe the bill wasn't going to pass since several Senators were going to vote against it. That would be a huge defeat for *.

Thanks for the post and analysis. The Highway bill should be interesting. If the fiscal conservatives are starting to break ranks, then that bill will be the one they make their stand. I hope.

[Just Me]

12. G-Damnit,...I am sick of this corrupt crap!!!!

Extreme ANTI-democracy moves by these freakin', greedy asswipes who obviously have absolutely NO NO NO conscience about abusing their positions and screwing the American people. I'm gonna have to start going on right-wing boards to spend all this pent up anger *LOL!!!

[UpInArms]

14. kick

:kick:

[Mandate My Ass]

18. Thanks for the heads up

Cut one head off and seven more pop up in its place...

I have a feeling too this'll get in the back door somewhere else although the dems have been making noise recently about raising ethics issues due to the sleazoid tactics by Delay et al.

[Robbien]

20. Am trying to wade through Thomas.gov on the transportation bill

to see what, if any, portions of the energy bill is being snuck in.

None so far, but did find an interesting tidbit in yesterday's floor discussion of the transportation bill:

However, when you say new job opportunities, it is about four times that. If someone takes a construction job, that person is buying more goods and services, and that means manufacturing is going to go up and there are going to be many other jobs. So this figure is a very conservative figure.

We estimate that the SAFETEA will increase the size of the job market by 700,000 but create over 2 million new employment opportunities. I think that is what we need to be talking about.

So while only creating 700,000 jobs over six years, these politicians are going to be saying the transportation bill will create 2 million "opportunities".

What fakers!

[mrdmk]

22. The government has been pushing Patriot Act 2 in small pieces

Though the back-door without the sunset clauses of Patriot Act 1. Yes we do need to keep up on the highway bill for ways of circumventing the cost of the energy bill. Also need to watch other spending bills for the same thing.

[dusty64]

24. This is how the

extreme right agenda has mainly been enacted. By executive order or shoved deep into thousand page bills in the dead of night with the demand they be voted on without even being read. I'm sure the Founders are rolling in their graves at the mockery Democracy has become.

[Just Me]

25. Precisely, right,...and has anyone kept track of this?

I had no access to keep track of it and am hoping someone else has been keeping an eye on what is happening.

I did have some spare moments to write the following, very brief, summation of what I believe is happening and would appreciate feedback before I submit it:

Below the radar of the American people's attention, a potentially disasterous tragedy is evolving. A faction called "neo-conservative" is engaging in despotic pursuits that endanger our democratic existence. This very tight-knit, ideological cabal presently dominates the current administration, and it is not vaguely representative of either moderate Republicans or conservatives. The "neocon's" anti-democracy actions starkly contrast with any other influential political participant across the whole spectrum with which this country has ever known.

The neocon faction's primary objective appears to have been to centralize and concentrate power under the executive branch. They have been quite successful. Part of their success may in large part be due to a well-crafted, long-term propaganda campaign aimed at diminishing the judicial branch, and at demonizing all who could arguably fall left of the political center. However, the most notable success has involved more direct avenues of usurping power.

For example, the cabal has intentionally by-passed congressional debate or oversight through abusive parliamentary actions, and pushed through legislation which would fail through normal democratic processes. Further, numerous agencies have been pulled under the umbrella of executive control via the creation of new exective offices, the most impactful being the Office of Homeland Security which is tied both into the Attorney General and the Secretary of Defense (which fall under the authority of the executive branch). Finally, Patriot Acts I and II (with several PAII provisions having been planted in other bodies of legislation to escape otherwise doomed failure) have disempowered common people through the suspension of liberties associated with due process, privacy and other constitutional guarantees.

If one considers the foregoing radical power-shifting to the executive, completing destroying the intentional balances imposed by our forefathers and creating the most conducive environment for another form of totalitarianism,...it is absolutely shocking. Never has our constitution, our democractic basis of government, our pursuit of freedom and liberty and real democracy been as vulnerable or threatened by a despotic body as it is today. The American people should be on high alert!!!!

[Zomby Woof]

23. ZombyKick

An important issue that salin has worked hard on for many months.

[Just Me]

26. I am grateful to salin,...

The "dots" that I am starting to connect,...seriously concern me. I confess that I have this sort of "plant" in my mind involving Frank's anticipatory position that martial law will have to be imposed,...along with the literal hordes of information I've accumulated over the last 18 months. I am a person very, very cautious about jumping to conclusions, yet willing to take a leap where the pieces of a broad picture take a "defining" shape.