The worst US energy legislation in years should be viewed in context. The House and Senate have passed destructive energy bills while losing control of federal spending and threatening to raise taxes. Although the energy bills certainly slap the oil and gas business, the broader context makes clear that Congress has no intention of confining pain to a single, unpopular industry.If enacted along with many of the spending and taxation measures under consideration, costly energy law would be just one blow in an official pummeling of the US economy. Individually, some proposals can seem affordable. Taken together, they promise a system of twisted incentives and punishing costs. And they emerg...