BREAKING: SENATE REJECTS NEW ENERGY INCENTIVES AGAIN

Recalcitrants in the Senate, representing much less than a majority of U.S. states or the U.S. electorate, have once again obstructed the growth of New Energy, one of the nation’s most vital industries. Once again, they did it by 1 vote. Isn’t it interesting that the Republicans who sided with New Energy are all up for re-election in November, while the meager minority who fought New Energy have safe seats or are not up for re-election?

Senators Clinton and Obama came in off the campaign trail to vote for the stimulus package additions. Senator McCain was in Washington but did not vote.(1 vote - he could have made the difference.)

The other spending measures the Senate would have added to the stimulus package include benefits to the unemployed, the elderly and veterans.

There may be further political maneuvering but it appears the New Energy incentives will not be part of it.

Senate G.O.P. Blocks Additions to Stimulus Bill
David M. Herszenhorn, February 7, 2008 (NY Times)

WHO
The U.S. Senate (Harry Reid (D-NV), Majority Leader)

WHAT
By 1 vote, Senate Republicans blocked Senate Finance Committee proposals to include vital Production Tax Credits (PTCs) and Investment Tax Credits (ITCs) and other spending measures in the economic stimulus package agreed on by President Bush and the House of Representatives and awaiting approval by the Senate.

WHEN
The vote came late February 6. Those in favor of the adding the tax credits and other spending were daring the Republican minority to reject such popular additions to the package.

WHERE
By rejecting the proposed amendments, the minority leaves the Democrats with the dilemma of whether to play politics with the whole stimulus package or pass it without the New Energy tax credits and other spending.

WHY
Technically the amendment package was defeated 58 to 41, making thos in favor of including the extra spending 2 votes shy of the 60 they would need to pass the amendments under the filibuster provisions of the Senate. For procedural reasons, Senator Reid switched his vote to the “No” side at the last minute when the loss was a certainty.

QUOTES
- Senator McConnell: “…in an apparent jolt of nostalgia for last year, Senate Democrats decided to co-opt a bipartisan proposal produced by the House to put together a carefully crafted political document…The point here was to try to do a targeted, temporary jolt to our economy and to try to astonish the American people by doing it on a bipartisan basis rapidly. This package will not achieve that result.”
- Senator Reid: “We have an obligation to do what we think is best to stimulate the economy and we have done that…”