After the House passed landmark legislation last night (with more votes than expected) that would raise auto fuel-economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020 (the first increase in 30 years), establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring that utilities draw 15 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2020; add 36 billion gallons of biofuels in the fuel supply by 2022, and cut tax breaks and subsidies for the oil industry, pushing that $13 billion toward renewable energy and efficiency. It's a strong bill, and Democrats in the House should be lauded for not weakening it in fear of a White House veto.
But as Ezra mentioned earlier, Senate Republicans shot it down a in a cloture vote today. So meaning Harry Reid could either force a vote (and force Republicans to filibuster), or send it back to the House where it would likely be weakened in hopes of getting through the Senate next time around. Reid says he'll consider stripping the Renewable Portfolio Standard and possibly the tax package to get it passed. I'm with David Roberts on this one: Reid should force Republicans to go on record opposing this bill. Bush seems likely to veto even the stripped version, and it will be a double defeat if Dems strip out key portions and the legislation is still vetoed. Democrats should hold their own, let Republicans get the negative attention they deserve for standing in the way of progress, and hope it helps build a filibuster-proof Congress next year.
--Kate Sheppard
