US Democrats compromise to get support for energy bill
WASHINGTON (AFP) — Senate Democrats stripped Thursday two key provisions from a sweeping energy bill aimed at reducing US reliance on foreign oil in order to gain support from the Republican minority.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Democrats agreed to remove a provision that would have cut billions of dollars worth of tax breaks to oil companies.
The majority also decided to take out another provision requiring that 15 percent of America's electricity come from renewable, environmentally-friendly sources by 2020, Reid said.
"Democrats have reluctantly agreed to remove that important provision from the energy bill," he said on the Senate floor.
"And that's not all. We have also compromised by making several changes to the energy tax title to accommodate the Republican minority," Reid said.
"But this compromise will ensure that critical investments in clean and sustainable sources of energy will continue."
The highlight of the energy bill, a version of which passed the House of Representatives last week, is a provision mandating a rise in fuel efficiency standards for most cars and light trucks to 35 miles per gallon by 2020.
The current Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards standard is around 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and just over 22 miles per gallon for light trucks.
Reid hopes the compromise moves will help the bill get the 60 votes it needs to overcome Republican blocking tactics in the 100-seat Senate.
The leading senator said the White House had opposed the removal of tax exemptions worth up to 15 billion dollars to five oil firms over the next 10 years.
Pressure for such a deal has been mounting as Americans become increasingly frustrated at rising gasoline prices, and amid warnings that the United States must wean itself of foreign oil from the unstable Middle East.
