Reid Files Motion to Limit Debate on Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) filed a motion March 22 in an attempt to limit debate and begin floor action on a bill that would extend several tax incentives for the clean or renewable energy industries while repealing tax breaks for major oil producers.

The bill (S. 2204), the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act, is expected to get a procedural vote March 26 and will require the support of 60 senators to allow it to advance toward a final vote in the Senate.

Senate Republicans, however, said action beyond that cloture vote is unlikely since previous efforts to repeal oil industry tax incentives, as well as to extend the clean energy incentives, have failed.

Republicans noted that a similar amendment to the FAA Modernization Act (S. 223) received only 44 votes in 2011 as seven Democrats, including Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), rejected the idea.