Domenici says tax committee chairmen seem "at an impasse"

Citing several still-unresolved provisions, a disappointed Sen. Pete Domenici again has put off a House-Senate conference committee meeting on a broad-based energy bill.

The New Mexico Republican, who chairs the conference committee, said in an Oct. 24 statement that he was "deeply disappointed" and postponed a meeting slated four days later that was to discuss a final draft of a conference agreement on the massive bill.

Among the issues, Domenici said that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Ways and Means Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) "seem to be at an impasse" on several energy tax items. Domenici said they include ethanol fuels tax treatment, credits for alternative energy, and breaks for "construction of new, cleaner coal plants and environmental upgrades to existing plants.

Beyond that, Domenici said the House still is pushing for what he termed "faulty liability protection" for producers of the fuel additive MTBE and changes to the Clean Air Act.

Domenici added, "I certainly understand the House's position on these matters. But I am a pragmatist. I have no intention of emerging from conference with a bill that cannot pass the Senate." He also said the issues eventually will be settled and there will be an agreement on a bill. "I would like that to be sooner rather than later," he said, "but it may be that more pressure needs to build to force compromise."

(Photo courtesy of the office of Sen. Pete Domenici)