Reid: Work On Energy Bill "over Until The Fall"

(The Politico)  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said work on an energy bill was “over until the fall,” all but ensuring that Congress will leave for the summer without addressing the issue of high gas prices.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Reid said he was finished trying to negotiate a deal on a bill to crack down on speculation in energy markets, which had been the main legislative vehicle in the gas prices debate.

Both sides blamed each other for the stalemate after they could not agree on the number of amendments to attach to the speculation bill.

Reid said Republicans were giving “a big wet kiss to big oil companies” by blocking the Democrats' attempts to pass legislation, saying he tried “numerous times” to strike a deal with Republicans, but they were not serious about passing legislation.

Republicans countered that by insisting on considering a tax extenders bill alongside the speculation bill, Reid was “moving the goalposts” to avoid potentially difficult votes on domestic drilling.