Break it apart (signalling that there is STILL not enough support even after the president's push in the SOTU, and after Sen. Daschle's pledge to pass the bill {due to ethanol interests in his own state - and his upcoming reelection})... and attach it to other legislation that is so compelling that folks will vote for it.
This signals a recognition of legislative failure on the one hand (the GOP can't pass it after 2 years and 2 tries...) the continued demand by the white house to get it passed (and preferably before Cheney's papers might be forced to be released related to his energy task force; and why now? where do we think much of the push for massive bush fundraising comes-- corporate interests (esp energy) - they need to prove that they can deliver...)
HOWEVER - this approach - if folks are not following where these items crop up - could be very hard to fight. This is a very important development (if it occurs) to follow.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2379801Jan. 30, 2004, 10:26PM
Republicans try to save energy bill
By DAVID IVANOVICH
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Faced with continued opposition to a comprehensive energy bill, Republican lawmakers are considering attaching a slimmed-down version of the legislation to the ever-popular highway bill.
With Democrats determined to block key aspects of the energy bill, and some Republicans objecting to its price tag, the legislation's proponents have been struggling to try to salvage what they can of the measure.
The highway bill is an obvious target for such a strategy because the legislation is loaded with lots of goodies members want to bring home for their constituents.
"I wouldn't be surprised if that was what we ended up doing," Senate Energy Committee Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said Friday, after a meeting with other Republican leaders at a GOP retreat in Philadelphia.
more:
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2379801