[Denveraudubon] Fw: Senate Set to Vote Again on Energy Bill

[Polly P. Reetz]

Please note:  the Senate vote tomorrow is crucial.  If you can, call Sen. Salazar and thank him.  And call Sen. Allard and urge him to vote for the bill (probably a vain hope, but he needs to hear from us).  The phone number (in this email) is 202-224-3121 for the Capitol switchboard.
Polly Reetz, Conservation Chairman

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Dear Chapter Leader,

As many of you know by now, the House took truly historic action last Thursday and passed, 235-181, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. The ground-breaking  provisions of the bill include a 15 percent by 2020 renewable electricity standard (RES), which will save consumers money; language to increase energy efficiency and renewable fuels production; and it raises fuel economy standards (CAFE) for vehicles --  the first meaningful increase in those standards in more than 30 years – to 35 mpg by 2020. These are all important steps in our effort to reduce global warming emissions. The roll call vote can be viewed here: 

http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?h=clerk.house.gov/cgi%2Dbin/vote.asp?year=2007%26rollnumber=1140&t=UNYqPg&e=XmrcPsTZkSo

For those who cast a Yes vote, thanks and praise for their far-sighted leadership are in order. Please call House Members at 202-225-3121 and thank them for their Yes vote.

The Senate very quickly paved the way for a cloture vote (a cloture vote is a three-fifths majority vote required to shut down a filibuster or the threat of a filibuster, in this case).  That vote took place Friday morning.  We lost, 53-42; we needed 60 votes to move the legislation forward in the Senate. In the states where Audubon has put additional resources and grassroots organizers on the ground, we delivered Senate votes in every instance.  Audubon’s work has clearly made a difference and those efforts will continue. Thank you all for your assistance in that effort. Our work is not done, and we will be calling on you again as we move toward a critical vote in the Senate.

That Senate roll call vote is here:

http://eidertrk.audubon.org/trk/r.emt?h=www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110%26session=1%26vote=00416&t=UNYqPg&e=XmrcPsTZkSo

Again, those Senators who voted Yes deserve thanks and praise. Please call Senators at 202-224-3121 and thank them for their Yes vote and encourage them to hold strong for a final vote in the Senate, currently scheduled for TOMORROW, Thursday, Dec.13th. 

We lost a number of key Republicans needed to carry us to 60 largely because of partisan politics. Energy and Natural Resources Ranking Minority Committee member Pete Domenici (NM) is bitterly opposed to the renewable electricity standard (RES) and took a number of Republicans with him. In preparation for a final vote on this bill tomorrow, we need to make sure that we can hold the 60 vote line to overcome a filibuster. There are several key Senators that we need to keep with us, if any of the following Senators are yours, please make a call today and encourage them to vote for a strong energy bill. Senators needed to get to 60: Lugar, Bayh, Brownback, Murkowski, Stevens, Ensign, Gregg, Sununu, Crapo and Craig

We have one more shot to get an energy bill passed in the Senate tomorrow. These votes represent a major achievement in the House and the Senate in our long road to finally getting a proactive energy policy that helps us fight global warming in this country. The energy bill contains important provisions to improve energy conservation and efficiency, increase fuel economy for vehicles, and safeguards for wildlife and the environment. 

With your help we can send a strong message to Congress and the administration that this country wants progress, we want a strong energy policy on the books this year. 

Thanks to all; with your continued help and support, we'll get this done.

Happy Holiday to All!

Betsy Loyless

Sr. VP for Policy



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