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Energy Bill Blocked by 1 Vote

Dems fail to override filibuster; $21B in taxes on oil companies draw GOP's ire

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 13, 2007 12:42 PM CST

(Newser) – Senate Democrats today failed by one vote to advance a broad energy bill that would have increased mileage standards to 35mpg by 2020. The sticking point for Republicans was  $21 billion in new taxes, mostly on oil companies, the New York Times reports. The vote to invoke cloture scored 59 votes in favor, one short of the 60 needed to block a Republican filibuster.

Majority Leader Harry Reid argued before the vote that the bill would “start putting America on the path to a cleaner, safer and more affordable energy future.” Afterward, he said the new taxes would be excised from the bill to move it forward.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. (AP Photos/Susan Walsh)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Dec. 3, 2007. (AP Photos/Susan Walsh)   (Associated Press)
Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., right, accompanied by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)
Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., right, accompanied by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, file)   (Associated Press)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Oct. 16, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, File)
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington in this Oct. 16, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones, File)   (Associated Press)
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