"Lame Duck Offers Glimmer of Hope on Energy Issues"

"At least one energy measure will see congressional action this week, and a handful of hopeful Senate Democrats have lofty plans to cut through the partisan gridlock of recent months to move several climate and energy bills by year's end.

An alternative vehicles bill (S. 3815) will receive a procedural vote this week, although efforts to pass it could be stifled by politics. Lawmakers will also keep pushing other energy measures including a renewable electricity mandate, an oil-spill response bill and an extension of expiring tax credits, although an already-crowded lame-duck calendar could leave little time to approve them.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moved to end debate on the autos bill before the Senate adjourned for recess in September and plans to hold a procedural vote on it Wednesday. Despite some bipartisan support for the measure, it is not likely to find the 60 votes needed to move forward and could face other procedural hurdles even if it does."

Katie Howell and Katherine Ling report for Greenwire November 15, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

"Labor-Enviro Coalition Calls for RES in Lame Duck" (Mother Jones)

"SCENARIOS-US Lawmakers May Tackle Energy in Lame Duck Session" (Reuters)

"Lame-Duck: Is Anything Possible?" (National Journal)