Thune Pushes Ratepayer Protection Act Vote to Aid Husted as House-Passed Bill Cleared 417-3
Updated
Updated · Punchbowl News · Sep 28
Thune Pushes Ratepayer Protection Act Vote to Aid Husted as House-Passed Bill Cleared 417-3
3 articles · Updated · Punchbowl News · Sep 28
Summary
John Thune is expected to set up a Wednesday procedural vote on the Ratepayer Protection Act as Senate Republicans hunt an affordability win in their final preelection week.
Jon Husted authored the bill, which targets higher energy costs tied to data centers, and Republicans see the vote as a way to help the vulnerable Ohio senator answer attacks from Democrat Sherrod Brown.
417-3 House passage has not translated in the Senate: Democrats already blocked unanimous-consent approval, and Chuck Schumer has called the measure a toothless “fraud.”
Even if enough Democrats back cloture to open debate, the bill could still stall later; Republicans still want the vote so Husted and others can say they supported lower utility costs.
The push comes as the Senate’s crowded final week also includes possible votes on California energy policies, an Israel-related resolution and a renewed bid to ban Chinese car sales.