Murkowski says address energy bill or hang Christmas stockings

Steve Sutherlin

Frank Murkowski told fellow members of the U.S. Senate Nov. 28 that they should “hang up their Christmas stockings” because they would not be going home by Dec. 15 without addressing an energy bill, Arctic Power in Washington, D.C. said. Murkowski said he and other minority members would delay action on all legislation coming up before the holiday recess if energy is not addressed.

“I’ve got big files and I can talk a long time,” Murkowski said.

His remarks were in response to a Nov. 27 statement by Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle saying Daschle planned to bring an energy bill up for floor debate within the first few weeks after Congress returns in January. Daschle has said that other pressing matters such as economic recovery, national security, and remaining government spending bills leave no time to deal with energy this year. A number of senators have criticized Daschle’s delay of energy discussion in the Senate.

“It's a great concern to me and a number of senators that we are not going to be able to consider energy policy for our country before the end of the year, especially in view of the fact that we see now continuing uncertainty about what is going to be done by OPEC countries,” GOP leader Trent Lott said.