'Gang' energy plan hits roadblock

WASHINGTON An energy bill that had been advertised as a harmonious, bipartisan compromise hit a rough spot this week that delayed its introduction in the Senate, said Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., on Wednesday.

The proposed legislation endorsed by 20 senators hit a snag over how to pay for the billions of dollars in tax incentives and initiatives it contained.

Pryor said leaders in the group, Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., were working on an agreement acceptable to members of what's been called the "Gang of 20."

"When you have as many senators as involved in the process as we do, there's been some suggested changes and recommendations," Pryor said. "We are trying to iron those out."

Pryor and Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., are both members of the group.

Pryor had earlier said he thought the Senate would consider the bill this week.

On Wednesday, he said the legislation may not come to the floor until Congress returns after the November election to wrap up its work for this session.

That is, if it's considered at all. The House passed a Democratic-backed energy bill on Tuesday that calls for less offshore oil drilling than Republicans want.

GOP members of the Senate gang are balking at tax increases on big oil companies that would pay for a share of that group's energy plan.

"The biggest (problem), the one causing concern, was regarding offsets, how do we pay for this," Pryor said. "In the last few days, one of the senators came in and suggested we cut spending."

The questions "caused us to sort of evaluate what was possible in the Senate to get passed," he said.

Pryor said he didn't think the House bill and competing measures in the Senate would derail his group's proposal.

He advocates a bipartisan approach to the bitter energy battle as the only way to resolve a debate raging in Congress for months.

The gang's plan would open up additional coastal waters for oil exploration, as favored by Republicans, while catering to Democrats with higher taxes on oil companies and restrictions on energy market speculators.

The bill focuses, too, on alternative and renewable energy with a goal to nearly eliminate cars powered by petroleum-based fuels.