Reid threatens to pull energy efficiency bill if amendment deal isn’t reached

The Senate is considering the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, S. 1392, which aims to improve energy efficiency building codes. There has been a stalemate on the bill for more than a week partly because Republicans are demanding votes on amendments that delay implementation of ObamaCare.

{mosads}“The latest we got from our floor staff is Republicans on this energy bill want five non-germane amendments and whatever other amendments are filed dealing with energy,” Reid said. “Meaning we’re not going to finish the legislation and that’s an understatement.”

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) is pushing an amendment that would require the president, the vice president, political appointees and all congressional staffers to use ObamaCare’s health exchanges, and limit tax subsidies that would make coverage more affordable for federal employees.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is also calling for a vote on his amendment that would delay the individual mandate requiring people to buy health insurance or pay a fee. McConnell said it’s unfair to treat individuals differently than businesses under ObamaCare since the administration delayed the employer mandate until 2015.

Senate leaders are still working on a deal to hold amendment votes and complete work on the energy efficiency bill this week, but Reid said if the deal isn’t reached the Senate would scrap the energy bill and instead take up a technology jobs bill — the High Technology Jobs Preservation Act, S. 1513.