Floor votes on amendments to the 2013 Energy & Water appropriations bill that would block a USEC bailout were scheduled for last night, June 5, but were postponed under the Boehner "need-more-time-for-arm-twisting" rule. Presumably, those votes will happen today, June 6.
The Burgess-Markey Amendment would eliminate the proposed $100 million appropriation for a "Research, Development, and Demonstration" program, otherwise known as Rake, Deceive, and Deplete the taxpayers. Another proposed amendment would remove the Department of Energy's ability to "trade" uranium with USEC in a manner that constitutes an unrestricted giveaway to the company.
Pete Visclosky (D-IN) surprised USEC boosters on Tuesday by speaking in favor of the USEC-killing amendments. Visclosky is the ranking Democrat on the Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee, so his stance is influential, and may be considered as the trigger for the Boehner arm-twisting rule.
USEC is operating under a clouded two-week extension on its credit facility for obtaining certain congressional commitment of funding, expiring June 15, so room for additional delays is running out for the company.
UPDATE: The amendment barring the dumping of inventory uranium, a mechanism used to bail out USEC, is Lummis-Hinjosa. Cynthia Lummis is the Republican congresswoman from Wyoming. Ruben Hinjosa is a Democratic congressman from Texas.
Votes on the two amendments are still delayed but are expected after 3 pm today, June 6.
No comments:
Post a Comment