[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 26068]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  DOMENICI MOTION TO TABLE FEINGOLD-BROWNBACK AMENDMENT TO THE ENERGY 
                                  BILL

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, today I will clarify my position on 
an amendment offered by Senators Feingold and Brownback to the Energy 
Bill. Their bipartisan amendment was aimed at protecting small 
businesses and consumers from efforts to roll back regulations 
governing utility holding companies. I was absent for the vote, number 
315, and at the time, was announced as an ``aye'' in favor of a motion 
to table the amendment. Through no fault of the distinguished Senator 
from Nevada who announced my vote, if I had been here, I would have 
voted ``nay,'' and supported the amendment which would have required 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to issue rules ensuring that 
small businesses can stay competitive with deregulated holding 
companies. The amendment also would have ensured that these holding 
companies do not damage the financial standing of small businesses or 
pass the costs of bad investments to consumers.
  Senator Feingold and Senator Brownback were correct. This amendment 
is just good public policy and would have protected small contractors 
against big utilities. I appreciate their hard work and dedication to 
this important issue.

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