Environment

WomenMatter will continuously post updates on all this and other issues as we monitor the continuing philosophical and practical debates nationwide. Please check back often for updates. Past updates are available for reference on the Environment Archives page.

Hollywood Ending: The Rise and Fall (or Fall and Rise) of the Energy Bill

The story of the energy bill is like the plot of a formulaic Hollywood movie. Although headed for certain doom, it was miraculously rescued in the final scene, which closes with a shot of the main characters smiling and cheering. And like every good Hollywood flick, there is soon to be a sequel in which the deeper motives of the heroes and villains are revealed (you decide who is the hero and who is the villain).

Last minute save

The energy bill was not likely to pass before the Senate summer recess; it was bogged down with amendments upon amendments, each of which required its own debate on the Senate floor. Everyone knew it could have taken months to come to a resolution.

In the heat of discussion, Minority Leader Tom Daschle mentioned the values of last year’s bill, which was proposed by Democrats and passed by the Democratic majority in Congress, only to be killed in final conference.

Dramatic moment

At the mention of last year’s bill, Majority leader Bill Frist saw the glimmer of opportunity. He then suggested that Congress vote on that bill, the bill that Daschle was eulogizing, the 2002 energy bill. So, they dropped the 2003 bill and voted on the 2002 Democratic bill. After the vote, Daschle himself referred to Hollywood favorite The Godfather by saying, "They made us an offer we couldn’t refuse."

Needless to say, the bill passed with flying colors (84 to 14 to be exact). Democrats voted for it (it was their bill after all) and Republicans voted for it because…wait, why did Republicans vote for it?

Women and men of action

This group of Republican Senators has the demeanor of the typical action hero. They want less talk and more do.

In the case of the energy bill, they just wanted to pass something. They were tired of the amendments, tired of the squabbling over corn-based ethanol (an additive to gasoline), and, maybe, just plain tired and wanting to go on summer vacation.

Political strategy

But it wasn’t that Republicans were tired and blurry and gave in to Democrats unwittingly. On the contrary, Bill Frist strategically maneuvered the bill off of the Senate floor and into conference committee, where Republicans have more power.

In order for a bill to make it to the President’s desk, it has to go through a final committee in which Senators and Representatives work out the differences between the two bills passed in each chamber. Since they must come up with a single, unified bill, a lot of rewriting goes on in this committee.

The sponsor of this year’s bill, Pete Domenici (R-NM), promises to re-author the bill in conference and, basically, turn it into the bill that he couldn’t pass on the Senate floor.

Is this brilliant or scandalous or both? Committee conferences are not as democratic as full Senate debates. The minority point of view is scarcely heard. The majority is able to control the conference almost entirely. In addition, the conference takes place behind closed doors, not in front of a live CSPAN broadcast.

Anxiously awaiting the sequel

Domenici has promised to speed up the permit process for oil drilling on public land and to promote nuclear energy. For this reason, energy industry lobbyists are pleased and expecting good things from Domenici’s rewrite in the conference committee.

Conservation groups are worried that the bill could spell disaster for the environment. They are anxious to see how the bill will transform in conference. Currently, The House of Representatives bill allows for oil drilling in an Alaskan nature preserve, the Senate bill does not.

We will have to wait and see what happens after the Congress summer recess. Keep your eyes on WomenMatter for the latest updates. To discuss this topic with other WomenMatter readers, [click here]. To give your representatives your review of the energy bill saga, [click here].

Posted on: 8/7/2003

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