Renewable energy tax credit extensions fail again

Washington Report 3: Senate leadership again this week failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to extend tax credits for renewable energy and efficiency. After tweaking the bill, they picked up 2 progressive Republicans, Norm Coleman (Minn.) and Susan Collins (Me.), since last week but most of the GOP caucus was steadfast in its opposition to other taxes being used to pay for the extensions. The vote was 52-44, with 4 likely ‘yea’ votes missing – Byrd, Kennedy, Clinton and Obama. With them, it still would have fallen 4 votes short. The next step is uncertain. Republicans don’t oppose extending the credits but rather paying for them with other taxes affecting offshore and international businesses. The tax credits expire at the end of this year. (Source: E&E News PM)