Reaction Of Senator Patrick Leahy
To The Senate’s Vote To Shelve The Energy Bill
November 21, 2003

[In a roll call that fell two votes short of the 60 required to proceed with the bill, the U.S. Senate Friday blocked further action on the latest version of the energy package.  Majority Leader Bill Frist said he will retry the vote at a later date.  Following is Sen. Patrick Leahy’s reaction to today’s vote.  Leahy opposes this version of the bill.]

“This is a rare victory for the public interest over the special interests.  It’s also a rebuke of the closed-door policymaking that produced such a turkey of a bill.  Congress and the President should go back to the bargaining table, open the doors this time, and produce an energy bill that will truly reduce our dependence on oil and that will bring cleaner renewable fuels online.”

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[CLICK HERE TO VIEW SENATOR LEAHY'S STATEMENT ON THE ENERGY BILL]