Third times a charm? Second vote on energy bill comes up 1 vote short

A second vote today in the US Senate on the new energy bill came up one vote shy of the sixty needed to end debate. Republicans opposed to $21.8 billion in tax increases have filibustered the legislation since it was first passed by the House of Representatives last week. Yesterday Senate negotiators removed a provision that would have required electric utilities to get fifteen percent of their power from renewable sources by the middle of the next decade. After the 59-40 vote this morning Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) agreed to remove the tax changes and bring the bill up for a third vote later today. If, as expected, the bill passes this time, the revised version will go back to the house for another vote likely early next week. If that happens the President is also expected to sign the bill into law.

[Source: Detroit News]