Renewable Energy Bill

So, the Senate passed a Renewable Energy Bill yesterday, after much negotiation and Republican rejection of things that really needed to not be rejected. Read the article here.

Harry Reid, Senate Majority Leader, wasn't so happy with the results, and with good reason:

Earlier in the day Reid could not hide his displeasure as Republicans blocked one of the Democrats' top priorities, a $32 billion tax package aimed at boosting renewable fuels, energy efficiency and clean energy programs. The Republicans didn't like the $29 billion in additional taxes on oil companies that the plan required to pay for the new alternative energy subsidies.

"Big Oil seems to do pretty well here on Capitol Hill," Reid told reporters, making no effort to hide his sarcasm

Republicans "didn't like the $29 billion in additional taxes on oil companies?!" What, just because they "plan" to pay for new alternative energy subsidies? How about this: Tax them, and the tax money goes to just that goal of finding alternative energy sources and guess what? They don't have to subsidize as much any more.

Of course, if the Democrats hadn't capitulated to Bush and his illegal war in Iraq and far too long was in Afghanistan, those funds might have actually been available. Funny, that.