Conservative Obstruction: Part 57

The bold clean energy bill that passed the House yesterday was blocked in the Senate today by yet another filibuster from the conservative minority. [1]

The bill had majority support from 53 senators [2], including 5 Republicans (most of whom have tough re-election battles ahead) and both independents. But conservative Republicans, joined by three Dems from fossil fuel producing states, thwarted the public will once again.

A scaled back bill is now likely, while hopes remain for the bolder renewable energy provisions -- 15% of electricity from clean sources, tax credits for renewables paid by ending handouts to Big Oil -- to return in different bills.

But let the record show that a majority of Congress sought to shift our energy policy, away from propping up dirty energy with our tax dollars, towards building a thriving clean energy economy.

And the conservative minority ignored the public and maintained our addiction to oil.