Senate Republicans managed to chop tax increases on the oil industry and a 15 percent renewable electricity standard from the energy bill, but at least the final bill retained the provisions that raise fuel-economy standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, create a Renewable Fuel Standard, and increase efficiency standards for appliances and buildings. Bush says he'll sign this significantly less-toothed version if the House approves it (which it's expected to). And this, my friends, is a wonderful example of how good legislation becomes much-less-good legislation, and then becomes law.
--Kate Sheppard
