Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) said Tuesday that while he would like to take up energy legislation as quickly as the “schedule allows,” its takes a backseat to the other more pressing issues that are facing the Senate.

There are a number of “must-pass” pieces of legislation such as economic stimulus, airport security, bioterrorism and agriculture that the upper chamber must address before it can focus on an energy bill, Daschle told reporters during a press briefing on Capitol Hill.

If the Senate decides to return after Thanksgiving Day, he said he would be “more than happy to allocate the time allowed” for an energy bill then, providing the “must-pass” bills have been completed. But if not, the bill would likely have to be held over until next year.

At a separate press briefing, energy legislation did not even make the radar-screen of Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS).

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