Senate Sidelines Tax Portion of Energy Legislation

On December 13, 2007, by a vote of 59 to 40, the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the tax portion of the Clean Renewable Energy and Conservation Bill of 2007 (HR 6). The vote will result in the Senate taking up the energy legislation without the tax provisions. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi indicated that the House would follow the Senate lead. President Bush indicated that he would sign the energy legislation if the Senate version reaches his desk. The Administration had issued a veto threat with respect to the House version of the bill, primarily due to the revenue raisers that had been included in the tax portion to pay for other tax breaks.