The odds of Congress passing electricity restructuringlegislation in this session were reduced to next to nothing as theHouse Commerce Committee—which has been beset by infighting—postponed the long-awaited mark-up that was scheduled for today.

At press time yesterday, a committee press aid confirmed themark-up would not be held, and could give “no firm date” for whenit would be rescheduled.

With this delay and the holdup in the Senate, the likelihood ofboth chambers passing a bill during the 106th Congress andforwarding it to President Clinton for his signature is “less than10%,” said a Capitol Hill observer. “It’s very unlikely there willbe a Rose Garden [signing] ceremony” this year. The best thisCongress, which will adjourn in early October, can do is puttogether a proposal that would enable the 107th Congress to movequickly on electricity restructuring, he said.

House Commerce Chairman Thomas J. Bliley (R-VA) has drawn thewrath of his committee colleagues by failing to negotiate therestructuring issues. “He’s kind of been like [Moses] bringing downthe tablets” with respect to the electricity bill, the observernoted. “He’s told the committee members ‘this is what you’re goingto do or else.’ The committee members are balking. You can’t ordermembers of Congress to just obey you.”

There’s “serious disagreement” between Bliley and members of theEnergy and Power Subcommittee about FERC’s jurisdiction overelectric transmission. Bliley floated a proposal last week thatwould give the Commission almost carte blanche authority over theentire interstate transmission grid, but subcommittee membersaren’t willing to go that extreme.

“It would be a serious mistake for Bliley to bring up the billnow. Bliley would get rolled.” That’s unfortunate because actuallyhis restructuring proposal is a “good one,” the observer noted,adding that “he’s just going about it all wrong.”

In contrast, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Frank Murkowski(R-AK) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, the ranking Democraton the committee, are painstakingly working through all of theissues. “That’s why the Senate is taking so long…..I think Iwould watch and see how the situation works out in the Senate. Itcould provide a blueprint [for restructuring] to the otherchamber.”

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