CRUSTY AND CRAFTY ARE IN THE CRIB:

Veteran Deal Makers Hopeful on Energy Bill (CARL HULSE, Sept. 6, 2003, NY Times)

One is a crusty veteran senator known mainly for his budget expertise, the other a crafty House member who did not let his Democratic past interfere with a quick rise to Republican power.

Together, Senator Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico and Representative Billy Tauzin of Louisiana will write much of the proposed new energy policy as the two men, both dependable industry allies, try to ride the momentum from the recent blackout to enact a long-stalled energy bill that critics say is a step backwards. [...]

It is the very expertise of the two men that worries conservation groups and others who oppose the emerging measure, objecting to its proposed tax incentives for the oil and gas industry, its push for new power plants and the possibility of oil drilling in an Alaskan wildlife refuge. [....]

The lawmakers would not be this far along had it not been for a strange turn of events at the end of July, weeks before the blackout changed the dynamics of the energy bill. As the Senate slogged toward its August recess, it was stalled on the energy bill after giving it halfhearted attention for months. It appeared that the Republican leadership would fall short of its goal of passing a measure before leaving town.

But as the parties fought over legislative scheduling, the Democratic leadership made a surprise offer on the floor: Pass the bill written last year by the Democrats and head to conference. Mr. Domenici said he slipped a note to Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, with three words scribbled on it: "Just take it."

Now, instead of having to maneuver a bill off the Senate floor in an environment altered by the blackout, the lawmakers find themselves, as Mr. Tauzin says, only one House and Senate vote away from a new national energy policy.

"Holy Moses, they just gave us a gift," Mr. Domenici recalled about the Democratic decision.

Granted that it is quite difficult and often painfully mundane to cover the actual legislative process, it is nonetheless the case that the press does a horrible job of it. That's how a legislator of historic importance, like Pete Domenici, can be virtually unknown and why most of the media whiffed on the story when the GOP passed the Democrats bill. Get to conference committee and all (well, many) things are possible. This too is why control of Congress matters.

Posted by Orrin Judd at September 7, 2003 10:06 AM