http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/01/AR2008080101183_pf.html

With party leadership on both sides digging themselves in on energy issues, the only hope for a legislative solution to cope with increasing energy prices may fall with two bi-partisan groups that have formed in both the House and Senate.  Each of these groups has developed a "compromise" proposal that attempts to increase production and conservation while boosting funding in renewable and alternative energy sources...

After two months of fever-pitch debate over how to deal with the soaring price of oil, Congress left town yesterday without doing anything on energy. The final day featured a group of raucus Republicans who remained on the House floor after an adjournment vote was passed, the microphones turned off and the lights dimmed, demanding that Democratic leaders return and take action on comprehensive energy legislation.

On the Senate side, a bipartisan group of senators known as the "group of 10" yesterday outlined a possible $84 billion compromise bill including new "targeted" offshore drilling opportunities and a $20 billion program to get 85 percent of new U.S. vehicles off petroleum-based fuels in 20 years. But the group left unresolved some of the toughest issues -- such as how to fully pay for the bill. The group called for a bipartisan summit to be held after the August recess, but by early afternoon different pieces of the plan were being picked apart. Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) criticized the offshore drilling portion, and the liberal Center for American Progress said the group deserved "an A for effort, but their proposal is unsatisfactory and needs many improvements." Red Cavaney, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said he hoped small bipartisan groups in the House and Senate could spur legislative action in September. "Though there is not a lot of time, maybe we'll see some vote on those bills or some version thereof," he said.

The Washington Post; August 2, 2008

Submitted by J. Andrews