Republicans accept energy deal, but Dems want more

Senate Republicans indicated Wednesday they would accept a two-day-old offer on an energy bill, but Democrats have rescinded the offer and tied it to legislation that would extend renewable energy tax credits.

{mosads}Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said a deal on four amendments each for both parties won't happen until Republicans allow the chamber to vote on the tax extensions. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) originally made the amendment offer Monday, but Schumer said Democrats have always insisted the amendments must be tied to the GOP allowing votes on the renewable-energy tax credits.

"Every time the Republicans say they might accept something, when you sit down and look in the weeds, they want five or six more things," Schumer said. "We're trying to reduce $4 [per gallon] gasoline prices. The goalposts have changed repeatedly over and over again, mainly done [by] the other side."

Don Stewart, a spokesman for Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), said Democrats have backed away from their offer.

"They're moving the goalposts,” Stewart said. “We're trying to take up the offer that Reid offered."

Later Wednesday, Reid suggested that talks have ended on any energy deal with Republicans, but did leave open the possibility of keeping the chamber in session during August.

Reid said GOP senators have refused to compromise, and that he won't discuss any more amendments to an energy bill until Republicans allow Democrats to move on to other topics. Earlier Wednesday the GOP already blocked a Senate proposal regarding renewable energy tax credits, and Reid said he is insisting on reopening that issue.

"That's where we are," Reid said. "My caucus demands that we focus now on something that will really make a difference — renewables."

At the same time, however, the Nevada Democrat said he would press to take up the defense authorization measure before the end of the week, and suggested he would allow the Senate to stay in session if the GOP blocked the defense measure as well.

“It is up to the Republicans,” Reid said. “If they want to be here during August, more power to them, because we'll be here with them. We all have things to do. We have long-standing obligations during August. But those can be changed.”

Jim Manley, a spokesman for Reid, said Democrats have always linked the renewable energy tax credits to any deal on amendments, and that Wednesday’s developments were nothing new.

“We had a vote this morning on a modified proposal designed to address many of their concerns and yet they voted it down,” Manley said. “We are done negotiating with ourselves. Their overtures on a ‘deal’ are disingenuous. They are continuing to do whatever they can to protect Big Oil instead of addressing the concerns facing ordinary Americans.”