House Dems likely to punt energy bill to next week

Despite prior assurances from their leaders, Democrats taking the lead on the latest House energy bill say it is unlikely the legislation will make it to the floor this week.

Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), who is sponsoring the Democrats’ latest energy bill alongside Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.), said on Wednesday that goal is now to have “all the concepts” down on paper by Friday so that members can take them home to digest over the weekend.

{mosads}That would leave next week as the earliest that any bill could be introduced, debated and voted on, Green said.

As recently as Tuesday, Democratic leaders had said their latest energy bill would be introduced this week.

But leading up to a second meeting of the Democratic Caucus, to be held on Wednesday afternoon, there were still a number of sticking points with the bill, including how much offshore drilling to allow and where, as well as how royalties would be distributed between the federal government and shore states, among other issues, Democrats said.

The new time line was not seen as problematic for Democrats.

“We can do it next week,” Rahall said. “We’ll all be here.”

The House is currently scheduled to adjourn on Sept. 26.