Were four Senators already out there campaigning for President?
The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Keystone XL pipeline bill that is aimed at improving energy efficiency in buildings — a rare moment of bipartisan agreement in a tense debate that is nowhere near being settled.
Lawmakers voted, 91 to 5, to add the popular energy-efficiency provision to a contentious bill that would approve construction of the Keystone pipeline.
The amendment, offered by a Republican, Rob Portman of Ohio, and a Democrat, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, is backed by President Obama and has broad support among members of both parties in Congress. But the measure will almost certainly languish in Congress for months before it can become law as part of the Keystone bill or as a stand-alone measure. ...
The measure is intended to cut homeowners’ energy use, utility bills and carbon footprints by, among other proposals, making it easier for consumers to buy “smart-metered” water heaters and cheaper for manufacturers to build energy-efficient cooling and heating systems. It would also create incentives for the owners of commercial buildings and their tenants to reduce their energy use.
via www.nytimes.com
After a ton of searching (5-10 minutes) I couldn't find what might be used to "cut homeowner's energy use ..." and "making it easier for consumers to buy ...." Any information out there in readerland?
My guess is, since the vote was overwhelmingly in favor, that, if incentives are involved, it involves subsidies to homeowners and not taxes.
