Kagan, oil spill and climate

President Barack Obama’s nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court will attract most of the headlines this week, but a couple of energy-related issues could steal the spotlight.

Congress is holding hearings this week on the massive oil spill in the Gulf Coast as a couple of senators prepare to unveil their climate change bill.

{mosads}Initially, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) were going to introduce their legislation to combat global warming, but Graham has pulled out.

In a Friday statement, Graham said, “I believe there could be more than 60 votes for this bipartisan concept in the future. But there are not nearly 60 votes today, and I do not see them materializing until we deal with the uncertainty of the immigration debate and the consequences of the oil spill.”

Three congressional panels have scheduled hearings on the spill, two of which will take place Tuesday. More are expected later this month.

The Senate will be looking to pass financial regulatory reform by the end of the week, though that appears unlikely. But the good news for Senate Democratic leaders and the White House is the bill now has the votes to pass.

The House is expected to vote on a five-year science reauthorization bill sponsored by retiring Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.). Meanwhile, House leaders, wary of scheduling tough votes so close to the election, are expected to make a final determination on whether they will pursue a budget resolution this year.

Work at the committee level is being done on the defense authorization bill, as some on the left want the administration’s “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy repealed in that measure. Pentagon leaders, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, have called on Congress to wait for it to finish its review of the contentious issue.

On Tuesday, voters in Georgia will decide who will replace retired Rep. Nathan Deal (R), who is running for governor. Unlike recent special elections in the House, this seat is expected to stay in Republican hands.

Also on Tuesday, Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.) will be looking to survive a primary race against state Sen. Mike Oliverio, who has raised more than $320,000. Many of Mollohan’s colleagues have donated to his campaign, including Reps. Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.). Former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) also contributed to Mollohan (and Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.) this cycle.