The reality is that Democrats may try to push the unpopular energy tax legislation through during the lame duck session between the November elections and the start of the new Congress next January, economy and public opinion be damned.
As the old saying goes: Trust in God and keep your powder dry.Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he wasn’t ready to make a final call on what legislation he’ll take to the floor before next month’s summer break. The Nevada Democrat said he will convene a special caucus on Thursday to go over his options, including a bill that caps carbon emissions from power plants, measures to respond to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and a national renewable electricity standard.
Reid had been aiming to release the energy and climate legislation ahead of a floor debate next week, but that schedule appears to be in jeopardy now because of difficulty in finding 60 votes on the carbon pricing piece and the utility industry’s pleadings for more time.
Still, Kerry on Wednesday said he wasn’t ready to rule out action next week. “I don’t even think that is out of the question,” he said. “We have to see where we are on utilities and we have to see where Harry wants to land.”
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