In case you missed it, Congressional Democrats has been making some solid progress in the past week on energy legislation, working to put a bill to vote that includes both a historic increase in fuel economy standards and a renewable electricity standard, hashing out the difference between the House and Senate bills passed over the summer. The negotiated House bill looks like it will include raising CAFE standards to 35 miles-per-gallon by 2020 (the first boost since 1975), and would would require electric utilities to draw 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. It also cuts $21 billion in tax breaks for the oil industry, instead shifting that money to renewable energy and conservation programs. Republican senators are vowing to filibuster, and Bush is threatening to veto. But the fact that House Democrats (under Pelosi's leadership) have been able to put together a bill that restores all these key provisions is strong evidence of their priorities. They've essentially said they're going to put forward the greenest bill possible and not sacrifice crucial elements in hopes of avoiding a Republican filibuster. The bill may go to vote as early as Thursday, and they should be commended for that. Now it's time to see what Harry Reid and the Senate Dems can do.
--Kate Sheppard
