Abraham Seeking Energy Bill This Year

[newyawker99]

The failure of Congress over nearly three years to enact energy legislation has fostered uncertainty and hindered private investments in transmission lines, power plants and energy development, President Bush's top energy adviser says.

But Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said the Bush administration, while it wants an energy bill this year, can go only so far in getting Republican lawmakers to resolve their sometimes sharp and testy differences over energy legislation.

"There's a point where they resist ... when it looks like the White House is trying to strong arm them," said Abraham in an interview Monday with The Associated Press in his office not far from Capitol Hill. "I think we're doing the right level of prodding at this point."

It's been nearly three years since Vice President Dick Cheney's task force issued its blueprint for the nation's energy priorities. Since then Congress has tried to put it all into legislation, failing last year in the final days of the legislative session.

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[The Backlash Cometh]

1. At this juncture, I think it's insane to let the Bush Administration be

point-man on anything that has to do with Energy or Defense. It's time to take the loaded gun out of the hands of the child.