Bush Energy Effort Running Out of Steam

W A S H I N G T O N, July 20, 2001 -- As the Bush administration continues the hard sell for a plan to overhaul the nation's energy policy, momentum for passing one of its top priorities is running out of gas and isn't likely to become law this year.

While traveling the country to sell the plan, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have generated bad press for their ties to the oil industry, as well as for Cheney's efforts to get the Navy to pick up the tab for energy bills at his official residence.

Outside Washington, prices of gasoline and natural gas continue to decline and once-strapped California reportedly now has so much electricity that the state government is selling its surplus to a glutted market.

"They were quick to declare a crisis that wasn't real. We have some long-term policy challenges but there is no energy crisis," said Thomas Mann, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "I just think the ingredients are not there for doing anything substantial."

Bush Concedes Tough Sell

Nevertheless, the vice president and several Cabinet members held five events Monday in politically important states like Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio, touting the president's energy plan. That same day, Bush himself conceded it could be difficult to persuade voters that the the situation is urgent.

"Anytime there's not an immediate problem that's apparent to people, it's tough to convince people to think long term," the president said.

The following day, House Republicans on the Appropriations Committee voted to transfer the estimated $186,000 in annual electricity bills at the vice president's mansion to the Navy's budget. With Cheney's approval, the move was requested by the White House, which cited the "fluctuating and unpredictable nature of utility costs and the relative small annual appropriation," for the mansion's operations. The administration maintains the transfer was in the works under the previous administration.

Democrats objected to the provision, saying it would unjustifiably insulate the vice president's office from the rising cost of electricity while all other Americans shoulder soaring bills, but they failed to defeat it on a party-line vote of 33-29.

"This reminds me of my friend Archie the Cockroach again. Archie said, 'The cost of living ain't so bad if you don't have to pay for it,'" said Rep. David Obey, D-Wis.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, noted that the federal government mandates that most military personnel are responsible for paying their monthly utility bills.

"It sends a terrible message not only to the American people but specifically to our military men and women … one standard for army privates, another for the vice president," said Edwards.

One Republican congressman blasted the story on the subject reported by The New York Times as "advocacy masquerading as journalism," and said the taxpayers would pay the same amount for Cheney's electricity bill whether it came out of the Navy's budget or that of his official residence.

Rep. Ernest Istook, R-Okla., also noted that "the real story" was that Cheney used 30 percent less energy at the vice president's official residence than his environmentalist predecessor, Al Gore, had used during the same period last year. "Here he is, practicing conservation," he said.

GAO Demands Energy Documents

The administration faced more heat on the energy issue Thursday as the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, issued Cheney a letter of demand, requiring documents detailing the development of the administration's energy plan. The GAO said Cheney had thus far refused to provided such documents.

The GAO's demand for information, originally requested by Democrats who contend the energy task force was influenced heavily by the administration's connections to and its contributions from the oil industry, could ultimately lead to a courtroom confrontation between Congress and the White House.

While Mann said the transfer of Cheney's electricity bill to the Navy was not likely to be noticed by the average voter, he said Cheney's refusal to provide the GAO with the requested information was more serious and could potentially result in a "real confrontation."

"There is a widespread perception that this president and this administration are tight with energy companies and therefore they are not trusted to go off and make policy in this area," Mann said.

Running Out of Time?

Politics and substance aside, many observers in both parties agree time is running out for the prospects of passing energy legislation. Congress takes a monthlong vacation in August before adjourning for the year in early October.

The Republican-controlled House plans to bring up Bush's energy plan for a vote by the end of this month. But in the Democrat-controlled Senate there has been little movement. One Democratic Senate leadership aide said though the administration is now attempting to reach out to Democrats on energy, that in the drafting of the energy plan Cheney's team included input from industry representatives while excluding input from Democratic lawmakers.

"The administration has created a big problem for themselves on the issue," he said.

The aide said Democrats still hoped to pass some energy legislation, perhaps more incremental and less comprehensive, emphasizing renewable energy sources, research, development and new technologies. He dismissed the Republican plan as an unlikely starting point, let alone a plan that will resemble the final product.

"Their quote-unquote plan will not be a departure for the legislation because it's production-based, and we're not going to take that approach," he said.

A GOP Senate leadership aide said despite weekly pleas from Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., for Democrats to bring an energy bill to the floor, Republicans are aware there isn't enough time for the Senate to consider the issue in the few days left this year.

"It can't get done — it's too big," he said.

But Ron Bonjean, Lott's spokesman, said Democrats won't bring an energy policy bill to the floor this year because they lack the votes to prevail — not because they lack the time. Republicans expect that on the issues of exploration, tax relief and conservation, several Democrats would join them to create a majority.

"They have the opportunity to do it, they know it and they won't go there," said Bonjean. "Because [Senate Majority Leader Tom] Daschle knows we'll take Democrats where he doesn't want them to go."