In order to force a vote on energy this year, Sen Frank Murkowski (R-AK) said he and other Republican proponents will attempt to attach the House energy bill, H.R. 4, to either the economic-stimulus, railroad retirement or farm reauthorization bills that are due to come before the Senate in the remaining days of the session.

Murkowski’s last gasp offensive came at a press conference Wednesday hosted by a thin group of Senate and House Republicans after Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) announced that he was deferring debate on energy legislation until next year. Daschle promised, however, to take up energy legislation as soon as the Senate reconvenes in January.

But Murkowski soldiered on. “That’s kind of the sequence of where we are…We intend to keep the pressure on and force a vote” on H.R. 4, which includes the controversial provision to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and natural gas exploration and production, he noted. If the Republicans are unsuccessful with one of the three bills, Murkowski said they will move on to another.

If “we have to put H.R. 4 on the next business before the Senate, which is still the stimulus [package], we’ll do it,” Murkowski told reporters. Should the Senate reach a compromise on the economic-stimulus package, the Alaska lawmaker said it won’t deter him from proceeding with his plan — even if that means being the lone supporter. “I’ve been lonely before,” he said.

Murkowski has pledged to filibuster any and all of the pending three bills in order to bring the House energy bill to the Senate floor for a vote. “We’ll consider whatever [method] it takes.” Democratic Sens. John Kerry of Massachusetts and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut likewise have vowed to filibuster any attempt by Republicans to bring up ANWR.

In a somewhat “tongue and cheek” manner, Daschle said Wednesday that if the Senate Republicans are so determined to have an energy bill this year, he’ll set aside some time around Christmas Day and New Year’s Day for the debate. “I doubt if he’d be there,” responded Murkowski, adding that “sure, I’ll be there.”

But “the point is we’re ready to debate energy now,” said Murkowski, who noted that “somehow with my House friends we are going to prevail on this.”

The postponement until next year “will give the Senate the time it needs to have the thoughtful debate and consideration that a comprehensive energy bill merits,” said Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “Americans want and deserve a national energy policy that is done right, not just quickly.”

The Republicans accused Daschle of “stalling” on the bill. “There is no good reason for the Senate not to take up” an energy package before it adjourns, said Chairman W.J. “Billy” Tauzin (R-LA) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. To not pass a bill this year is “I think offensive.”

The “House has done its job” by passing H.R. 4 before the August recess, said Murkowski, but the Senate “has been terribly derelict.”

Chairman James Hansen (R-UT) of the House Resources Committee called for the Senate energy bill to include ANWR. “I don’t think [opening ANWR] would hurt one bit of the environment,” he said, adding, “Let’s get real on some of this stuff.”

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