WATCHING WASHINGTON ENERGY BILLS BECALMED

With Patrick Crow Although September was to have been a busy month for omnibus energy bills, Congress has set them aside to consider more pressing business. Last week the House fossil fuels subcommittee abruptly postponed its energy legislation markups until October. The subcommittee was having trouble assembling a quorum for markups because of other business. In the Senate, Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Me.) continues to show no enthusiasm for bringing the energy committee's omnibus

Sept. 23, 1991

3 min read

Although September was to have been a busy month for omnibus energy bills, Congress has set them aside to consider more pressing business.

Last week the House fossil fuels subcommittee abruptly postponed its energy legislation markups until October. The subcommittee was having trouble assembling a quorum for markups because of other business.

In the Senate, Majority Leader George Mitchell (D-Me.) continues to show no enthusiasm for bringing the energy committee's omnibus energy bill to the floor for debate.

THE SENATE SCENE

Talking about the Senate's fall schedule earlier this month, Mitchell said his priorities would be to bring bills to the floor that increase unemployment benefits, grant middle income families tax relief, improve health insurance, and bolster education'

And almost as an afterthought, he added, "We hope to act on energy legislation..."

Mitchell's less than resolute attitude signals that the Senate is not likely to debate the energy bill next month, and November doesn't look too good either.

Despite its early October adjournment target, Congress is expected to remain in session until the last week in November, then recess until January.

If the Senate doesn't consider the energy bill before late November, Energy Sec. James Watkins and other Washington observers think it will be much harder to pass next year.

They know from experience that bills tend to become political issues as presidential elections approach, and the number of bills clearing Congress dwindles as November elections draw near.

The Senate energy bill already is something of a political hot potato. Sen. Richard Bryan (D-Nev.) and others will try to amend it with tougher auto fuel economy standards. And a dozen senators may filibuster the bill until a provision allowing oil exploration on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Coastal Plain is deleted.

The Bush administration has threatened to veto the bill if it contains fuel economy standards that are too tough or does not permit ANWR drilling.

Jerry Jasinowski, National Association of Manufacturers president, recently said Congress, President Bush, and the business community must make energy legislation a priority this fall.

"if the Senate doesn't act swiftly," he said, "a national energy plan could stall, leaving it in limbo as we head into an election year. We're not going to get something in an election year."

WHAT'S POSSIBLE

That pessimism aside, it is possible to get an energy bill next year.

Both houses of Congress have moved remarkably fast on their bills so far, lending encouragement to the future.

The fossil fuels subcommittee could report out its bill next month, so the full committee could pass it before the recess.

If both houses pass their bills by early next year-the House bill is unlikely to include ANWR drilling-there will be time for a conference committee and final passage before Congress slips into its preelection doldrums.

But Jasinowski is right about a fundamental point: Congress needs to show more resolve or the legislation soon will be in jeopardy.