The big reveal of a bipartisan energy bill has been temporarily postponed with Democrats attempting to sound confident but with no clear path for the measure to make its way to the Senate floor this year.
As we reported as the news broke Saturday, Sen. Lindsey Graham defected from the bipartisan trio that was writing a new energy bill aimed at forging consensus between Republicans and Democrats. Graham (R-SC) suggested that Democrats are playing politics with immigration, which doesn’t leave the legislation with much of a chance at passage.
His partners in the effort, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) have said they want to move forward anyway, but a press conference scheduled for today was canceled. Capitol Hill aides tell me that talks have resumed between the group and they may convince Graham after all.
Lieberman told the Associated Press he is “encouraged” after speaking with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He said he thinks the bill will advance “as soon as we can get Lindsey on board.”
“We need him to come back,” Lieberman told the Wall Street Journal.
