Senate Democrats and Republicans have been unable to reach an agreement that would limit the number of amendments to be offered to the Democratic energy bill (S. 517). The effort by the Democratic leadership to restrict the amendments is intended to allow a final Senate vote on the bill.

As of last week, it was estimated that there some 100 amendments for consideration to be offered by both Democratic and Republican Senators, Sen. Frank Murkwoski (R-AK), ranking Minority Member on the Senate Energy Committee, said. Sen. Murkowski claimed that Democrats sponsored the bulk of the pending amendments —at least 73. Democrats countered that Republicans refused to provide the Democratic leadership with a definite list of amendments. As a result, the Democrats said they were unable to determine the amount of floor time needed for the legislation.

WASHINGTON -- An amendment to the Senate's energy bill (S.517) by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), that would delayed the Renewable Fuel Standard--the "ethanol mandate"--by one year and would require the Environmental Protection Agency to act more quickly in responding to any governor's petition to waive the standard, was defeated last week by a vote of 61 to 36 (3 abstaining).

Feinstein's amendment was supported by the Society of Gasoline Marketers of America, as well as the National Association of Convenience Stores. It was opposed by the National Corn Growers Association and the Renewable Fuels Association.