After failing to overcome their differences with the Republicans over $31 billion of industry incentives, Democrat members duly carried out their threat to block by filibuster the US government's energy bill in Senate. A proposal by the bill's supporters to cut off the debate was defeated by 57 votes to 40 and the bill ran out of time. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, who had warned that without the bill the country was "simply inviting more energy problems by refusing to address the reliability of the electricity grid" was critical of the Senate decision but remained hopeful that the bill would soon be enacted. "From day one" he said "President Bush has focused on addressing America's long-term energy needs to ensure our economic vitality and national security, and lessen our dependence on foreign sources of energy. We recently experienced our nation's largest blackout. Our citizens continue to suffer from period price spikes for necessary commodities like gasoline, home heating oil, and natural gas. And all of us should be asking - why? The answer is fairly straightforward: it is because we have yet to get our energy house in order. And that will not happen until the Senate passes the comprehensive energy bill.
"For three years we have made progress on passing [such an] energy bill and I applaud the terrific work of senator Pete Domenici and chairman Billy Tauzin. But it is past time to get serious and tackle the job at hand. I am confident that we will pass a comprehensive energy bill in January that benefits the American people." And senator Domenici, chairman of the Senate's energy and natural resources committee, described the vote as a temporary setback.
"The bill" he said "is not dead. A lot of [opposing] senators ... know that this is the best package for their constituents and that this opportunity isn't going to come round again". However, it is not clear when the Senate will have another opportunity to consider the bill.
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