House Okays Boost In Fuel Standards
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
WASHINGTON — It surprised even some environmentalists when a $21 billion tax package, much of it new taxes on oil companies, emerged in the House Democrats’ energy bill. A requirement on utilities to use renewable fuels was expected to be abandoned as well. They could cause problems in the Senate, prompt a presidential veto, and jeopardize a historic push for the first major increase in automobile fuel economy in 32 years, some lawmakers worried. But the House speaker, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, pressed ahead with the entire package, taxes and all. “We have to pay for the bill,” she told reporters.
And for the time being, Ms. Pelosi’s instincts appeared to have been rewarded.
The House passed the energy legislation by a solid — though not veto-proof — 235–181 margin, sending it to the Senate for likely action next week.
“I don’t think anybody can predict what will happen in the Senate,” Ms. Pelosi conceded after the vote, but added confidently — and with a hint of possible further compromise: “We will have a bill.”
