House Passes Energy Bill; Senate to Take Measure Up Next

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he House Thursday approved a new energy bill that includes everything from new oil-drilling rights to billions in energy tax breaks, the Associated Press reported.

The 249-183 vote for the bill reflected many of President Bush's energy priorities, AP said, with 41 Democrats voting for the measure.

The Senate takes up the measure next, where some of the issues could become more contentious, AP reported.

The House called for opening Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil companies. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), whose committee will put together the Senate's version, has said that provision would prompt a filibuster in the Senate and likely could not be overcome, AP reported.

The House bill also would give makers of gasoline additive methyl tertiary butyl ether protection against product liability lawsuits stemming from water contamination associated with MTBE, AP said.

More than 80 such suits have been filed, and two years ago an MBTE waiver stopped passage of an energy bill, AP reported.

President Bush is “very pleased with this bill,” Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman told reporters. But he said he hoped the measure's overall cost can be brought down, AP said.