Democrats seem to have struck a deal on a massive energy and global warming bill, but some in the party are worried their politically risky vote in favor of the measure will be for nothing because once it hits the Senate, where opposition from every Republican and many centrist Democrats make passage, or even consideration, unlikely.
For some House Democrats, the situation is reminiscent of at 1993, when Democrats passed a bill, pushed by then-Vice President Al Gore, that would have taxed the amount of energy used by measuring British Thermal Units, or BTUs.
Many House Democrats at the time went out on a political limb to support the bill, which was pushed by then-Vice President Al Gore.
It passed by just three votes by the Democratically led Congress, only to die in the Senate, where Democrats there refused to even vote on it.
The bill that Democrats plan to vote on as early as Friday appears headed for a similar fate.
“That is the fear of most House members,” said Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, who is planning to vote on the bill. “No one wants to get BTU’d. A lot of members took a lot of heat back home over that bill.”
The Senate is working on separate energy and climate bills that have little in common with the House version, which would put in place caps on pollution and require costly permits for those who pollute beyond the cap. It’s a politically excruciating vote for many members, particularly those from rural and farm belt districts that could face higher electricity costs and job loss.
The Senate, on the other hand, passed an energy bill in committee last week that would open up more of the Gulf coast to drilling.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will not commit to considering the House bill, saying he wants to see if the House is able to pass it first.
