• Congressional Focus: Budget passes, Musical Chairs expected in Senate...
• Energy Policy: Baucus releases major energy tax reform bill, Water heater bill introduced...
• Dodd-Frank: Senate version of Public Power Risk Management Act introduced...
• Cyber Security:  House Energy Panel Hears From FERC Commissioners, Presses Cyber Concerns...

On Dec. 18, the Senate voted 64-36 to approve the House-passed "Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013" (H.J. Res 59), sending the measure to the President for signature.  The two-year budget forged by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) provides modest sequestration relief and reduces the federal deficit by $85 billion over 10 years.  The deficit decreases come from a combination of spending cuts, new revenues, and policy changes, but not from tax increases.  

The bipartisan agreement paves the way for Congress to avoid another government shutdown and pass FY14 appropriations into law by Jan. 15.  They also must address raising the federal debt limit, which was not included in the budget deal.

In addition, on Dec. 18 the White House announced that it is naming Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) to be the new U.S. ambassador to China, which means that Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR) would likely become the new Finance Chairman several months earlier than he would have if Baucus had completed his current term, through 2014, in office.  

 

The move would cause a change in focus for the ENR Committee.  That panel would be chaired next by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who would likely focus more on oil and gas issues than Chairman Wyden did.  

To read the complete legislative update including the following topics, click the links below:

House Energy Panel Hears From FERC Commissioners, Presses Cyber Concerns