Yesterday, Senate conservatives continued their stated strategy of “making political points” by obstructing legislation meant to address America’s energy and environmental challenges. First, in a 51-43 vote, conservatives successfully used the threat of a filibuster to block the Consumer-First Energy Act, which would have “levied a 25 percent tax on ‘windfall profits’ of major oil companies” that don’t invest more in renewable energy. Daniel J. Weiss, the Center for American Progress’s Director of Climate Strategy, says that such a tax would “spur investments in clean energy alternatives.” The bill would also have “given the government more power to address oil market speculation, opened the way for antitrust actions against countries belonging to the OPEC oil cartel, and made energy price gouging a federal crime.”

From Center For American Progress Action Fund