Yesterday, Senate conservatives continued their stated strategy of "making political points" by obstructing legislation meant to address America's energy and environmental challenges. First, in a 51-43 vote, conservatives successfully used the threat of a filibuster to block the Consumer-First Energy Act, which would have "levied a 25 percent tax on 'windfall profits' of major oil companies" that don't invest more in renewable energy. Daniel J. Weiss, the Center for American Progress's Director of Climate Strategy, says that such a tax would "spur investments in clean energy alternatives." The bill would also have "given the government more power to address oil market speculation, opened the way for antitrust actions against countries belonging to the OPEC oil cartel, and made energy price gouging a federal crime." The second bill blocked by conservatives, the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008, failed by a vote of 50-44. It would have extended popular tax breaks for renewable energy that are set to expire at the end of this year. The failure to pass the tax breaks is worrisome to the renewables industry, which is "already seeing a slowing of growth in the sector because companies are hesitant to start new projects without the assurance that these credits will be available." Yesterday's obstructionism is the third time in less than a week that Senate conservatives have used parliamentary tactics to block energy legislation. On Friday, conservatives blocked the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act after first shutting down the Senate by forcing the clerk to read the entire bill on the Senate floor.
