A day late, House of Representatives passes energy bill

After a delay in the vote the House of Representatives passed the new energy on Thursday by a 235-181 margin. The bill passed largely on party lines with fourteen Republicans voting for the bill and seven Democrats against it. The reasons behind the delay will likely doom the bill in the Senate and almost certainly at the White House if it gets that far unchanged. While most representatives supported the fuel economy requirements, some of the ancillary elements are a deal breaker for Republicans. The big stumbling block is the repeal of $21 billion in tax breaks that currently go largely to the oil industry. The President has vowed to veto the bill if this provision stays in. The Senate may vote on the bill as soon as today if it doesn't get filibustered.

[Source: Detroit News]