"Senate Tied Up In Spat Over Energy Efficiency Bill, Keystone"

"WASHINGTON -- Continued fighting in the Senate over amendments to a bipartisan energy efficiency bill prompted Majority Leader Harry Reid to compare his Republican colleagues to "greased pigs" on Tuesday, after a lengthy explanation of what exactly those are.

"Oftentimes working with my Senate Republican colleagues reminds me of chasing one of these little pigs in a greased pig contest," said Reid. "Regardless of our efforts, any time we get close to making progress, it seems as though we watch it slip out of our hands, and the Republicans scamper away."

His comments referred in particular to an energy efficiency bill currently before the Senate. The bill, from New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen and Ohio Republican Rob Portman, made it through a cloture vote Tuesday morning, but has been bogged down in fights over how many and which amendments to the measure will get votes. The bill includes a number of efficiency measures, such as improvements to building codes, funding for research and development of new technologies, and incentives for the use of more efficient products. It also includes measures to encourage improved efficiency in appliances and buildings used by the federal government."

Kate Sheppard reports for the Huffington Post May 6, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Pipeline Deal on Verge of Collapsing" (The Hill)

"Senate Votes To Begin Work on Energy Efficiency Bill" (The Hill)

"Reid Gives GOP Ultimatum on Keystone" (The Hill)

"Still No Deal on Amendments as Test Vote Planned for Shaheen-Portman" (E&E Daily)

"Why This Could Be Make-Or-Break Week for Keystone XL Pipeline" (Christian Science Monitor)