The Politico reports on Senator Mitch McConnell's bi-partisan efforts to pass an energy bill.

Back from an Independence Day recess that saw gas prices peak at more than $4.10 per gallon, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Monday that he’s hoping to entice a handful of Democrats to join him in supporting more domestic drilling, and an aide to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said it may be time for a new “Gang of 14” to break through the partisan impasse on energy issues.

 

GOP senators believe that a number of moderate Democrats would be open to legislation that balances increased energy exploration with conservation. If they’re right, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could lose their grip on energy policy, and the Republicans could score a major coup on the No. 1 issue on the minds of voters.

 

At least five Senate Democrats support more domestic oil and gas exploration, and McConnell is sweetening the deal to make the sale to other moderates: The Kentucky Republican is pushing a package of incentives to boost conservation as well as a measure creating stricter enforcement of commodities markets in exchange for more offshore oil and gas drilling.

 

“The goal,” he said Monday, “is to narrowly craft something that will appeal to Democrats.”

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