Dems

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) postponed a conference committee vote on the proposed energy bill, which tentatively had been set for Oct. 3, until after the Senate returns from its recess in mid-October. This could push back Senate and House votes on the energy bill to November.

Within hours of the Senate voting out Democrat-crafted broad energy legislation late Thursday, Republican leaders vowed to make significant changes to tailor the bill to fit their views on energy issues, while Democrats warned they may filibuster a bill that emerges from conference committee radically altered.

Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked each and every turn by Democrats to make significant changes to a substitute electricity amendment offered by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) as part of the omnibus energy bill (S. 14).

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) urged key Democrats last Thursday to reconsider their objection to filing energy bill amendments by July 23 so that the Senate can complete the long-awaited legislation during the final week before the August recess.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) urged key Democrats Thursday to reconsider their objection to filing energy bill amendments by July 23 so that the Senate can complete the long-awaited legislation during the last week before August recess.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, signaled last Tuesday that he will block the Republican nominee for a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission unless the White House names a Democratic nominee for the other vacant position on the five-member Commission.

Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, signaled Tuesday he will block the Republican nominee for a seat on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission unless the White House names a Democratic nominee for the other vacant position on the five-member Commission.

Enron Corp. affiliates have continued to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in recent days, making the total 28 so far. On Monday, telecommunications products trader Enron Broadband Services LP filed for bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan listing assets of $64.5 million and debt of $63.7 million, not including off-balance sheet and contingent obligations. Affiliate Enron Freight Markets Corp. filed last Friday, listing $6.3 million in assets and $4.7 million in debts.

Just back from recess, Democrats in the House of Representatives last week continued to round up support for a discharge petition that would force consideration of energy price-cap legislation on to the House floor. The Democrats now need less than 60 signatures from lawmakers in order to move the price-cap bill sponsored by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA), directly to the House floor.