House Republican leaders have spread the word that they are planning an “Energy Week” this week, which will include a series of votes on various energy proposals. But Washington pundits, citing a continuing political split, expect little in the way of substantive action.

House Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-TX, has indicated that he expects to hold votes on an energy package similar to the omnibus bill that failed in the Senate last year and also on some separate measures. The stand-alone bills could include a revival of legislation to allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and incentives for drilling on other federal lands.

The majority leader has yet to say definitely which bills will be brought up and when, although Capitol Hill sources suggested next Tuesday as a likely day.

If the House reruns the bill produced by the House-Senate conference committee last year, which was approved by the House but turned down by the Senate, it is likely to stall again in the Senate. Sources pointed out that the issue of MTBE liability, which House Republicans insist on, still doesn’t have enough support in the Senate to overcome opposition. Allowing drilling in ANWR also lost out in the Senate last year and isn’t expected to be any more popular this year.

The House Republican leadership appears to be counting on public reaction to the current high energy prices to stimulate lawmakers’ action on a U.S. energy policy.

So far the response on the Senate side is for a hearing to be held this Thursday by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on crude oil supply, gasoline demand and the effects on prices.

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