US Senate GOP Want To Drop Elec Restructuring Until 2002

- WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Senate Energy Committee Republicans Monday urged the panel's chairman to drop consideration of a controversial electricity restructuring proposal until next year in order to speed consideration of an overall energy bill this fall.

The letter, signed by all 11 of the committee's Republican members, was addressed to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., the panel's chairman and author of the electricity legislation.

The implied subtext of the letter appears to be an effort to compel a Senate vote on opening Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The House passed an energy-policy bill this summer with a provision opening the refuge to drilling.

"The tragic events of Sept. 11 have dramatically altered the landscape of this nation. We must alter course (and) work together to provide the president with the tools he needs for the security of this nation, including the security of our energy supply," the letter said.

"It is now important for us to focus on those measures that are achievable this year. While we understand your interest in a comprehensive bill that includes electricity restructuring, climate change and other issues, we must assess whether there is sufficient agreement, beyond some basic provisions, to enable us to proceed at this time without jeopardizing an entire legislative package getting to the president," the Republicans told Bingaman.

The letter comes after Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and Interior Secretary Gale Norton met with Bingaman Friday at the Capitol to urge congressional passage of an energy bill this fall that includes provisions on electric industry reform as well as drilling in the Arctic refuge.

The administration is expected to release a legislative package this week outlining the principles it seeks in an electricity reform bill.

"It just makes you wonder how much in sync they are with their own White House," Bill Wicker, Bingaman's committee spokesman, said of the letter.

With Abraham and Norton signaling to Bingaman, "We're just about ready to go with you on this electricity stuff," the letter suggests the Republicans are "clearly out of the loop when it comes to the White House and the administration," Wicker said.

Bingaman has made clear that he wants to resume committee voting on a comprehensive energy package and isn't interested in "cannibalizing" pieces of it "just to legislate the easy stuff," Wicker said.

While the administration supports the goals of Bingaman's electricity bill, it doesn't necessarily support the legislation per se, an administration official told Dow Jones Newswires.

"We do want a bill with electricity provisions," the official said. "We do want to work with Chairman Bingaman." But, politically, there isn't much chance of passing Bingaman's bill, the official said.

In the House, meanwhile, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, Friday unveiled a draft electricity restructuring bill for consideration by the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee he chairs.

Last week, Barton strongly called for electricity to be part of an energy bill that Congress should send to the president's desk this fall.

Barton's draft bill is available on the Web at www.house.gov/barton.

The positioning comes as energy lobbyists are increasingly skeptical that Congress will pass an energy bill this fall in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Bingaman had scheduled a Sept. 13 committee vote on the electricity legislation, but that was postponed indefinitely in the wake of the attacks.

Energy committees in both the House and Senate have shifted their immediate focus to considering legislation needed to protect the nation's energy infrastructure from both physical and Internet-based attacks.

Bingaman's Senate committee has scheduled a closed hearing on the issue for this Wednesday. Rep. Billy Tauzin, R-La., said last week the House Energy and Commerce Committee he chairs will receive closed-door briefings on energy infrastructure security issues Tuesday.

"We believe that the committee should focus on those measures that contribute directly to maintenance of our energy infrastructure, increase domestic sources of production, reduce demand and decrease our reliance on unstable sources for our domestic energy requirements," the Senate Republicans said in the letter to Bingaman.

They called for Bingaman to circulate draft language for the remaining portions of the comprehensive energy bill he envisions.

"We believe it is possible to conclude consideration of the remaining issues presented in your (legislative) outline within no more than two business meetings and have a bill ready for floor action immediately," the letter said. "There is little time remaining this session. It would be irresponsible for us to conclude this session without providing the president with the energy tools that are needed to provide for our long-term national security and economic growth," the letter concluded.