Stimulus Bill Expected to Barely Pass Senate; Climate Provisions Face Cuts

The Senate spent most of the last week debating its version of the stimulus bill. The Senate is planning to hold a vote tomorrow on an amendment to the stimulus package organized by a number of moderate Senators that will strip roughly $108 billion in funding from the original Senate bill, bringing the price down to about $820 billion.  Passage of this amendment will set the stage for final passage of the bill and then conferencing the differences between the House and Senate bills, which is planned to take place later this week.

In addition to state aid and education funds, other items to be cut include climate-related provisions as well as millions for loan guarantees for renewables, green buildings, a government fleet of fuel efficient vehicles and energy retrofits for public housing.  Environmental groups are urging senators to pass the bill, while expressing concern that these important energy saving programs will be stripped out in the Senate bill and so are encouraging lawmakers to include the House-passed programs for clean transportation, renewables and energy efficiency in the final conference package.  Read more at E&E (sub. req'd)