Lawmakers Remove Roadblock to Energy Bill (MTBE liability tabled)

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- House and Senate conferees abandoned giving makers of the gasoline additive MTBE liability protection against environmental lawsuits on Sunday, removing the major roadblock to enactment of broad energy legislation.

Senate negotiators rejected a House proposal for an $11.4 billion MTBE cleanup fund that House Republicans had hoped would serve as a compromise and still provide the liability shield to the oil industry.

But Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said "the proposal has not been accepted by the Senate" and that he would offer another MTBE proposal on Monday.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., leader of the Senate energy negotiating team, said while some MTBE issues were still being discussed, those did not include a cleanup fund, nor liability protection.

"Those are gone," Domenici told reporters as the House-Senate conferees held an unusual Sunday session in hopes of completing work on a sweeping energy bill by Monday night.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/24/AR2005072400750.html

[whistle]

1. Are the "House and Senate conferees" referred to here republicans?

[MasonJar]

2. What about Anwar?

[Judi Lynn]

3. Liability shield dropped to get energy bill moving

July 24, 2005, 5:54PM

Liability shield dropped to get energy bill moving
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — House and Senate conferees abandoned giving makers of the gasoline additive MTBE liability protection against environmental lawsuits today, removing the major roadblock to enactment of broad energy legislation.

Senate negotiators rejected a House proposal for an $11.4 billion MTBE cleanup fund that House Republicans had hoped would serve as a compromise and still provide the liability shield to the oil industry.

But Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, said "the proposal has not been accepted by the Senate" and that he would offer another MTBE proposal on Monday.

Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., leader of the Senate energy negotiating team, said while some MTBE issues were still being discussed, those did not include a cleanup fund, nor liability protection.
(snip/...)

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3279963
(Free registration required)

[ecoalex]

4. Right Pete, just get those nukes a'going they're ok huh?

They had a choice ethanol, non toxic, or methanol a carcinigen, yup, they chose mtbe. Do they get any smarter? More currupt? hell No !