WASHINGTON (AP, THE WASHINGTON POST) Senate Democrats gave up plans Thursday to attempt to pass an energy bill that caps greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, abandoning a priority of President Barack Obama.
He had hoped to add such a bill to the two biggest legislative successes of his presidency, a comprehensive health care bill and a broad reform of the U.S. banking and financial sector.
The failure to pass energy legislation also is expected to weaken the U.S. negotiating position heading into international climate negotiations in Mexico at the end of the year.