Thursday: Energy vote, banking rules

by Jordain Carney - 02/04/16 9:50 AM ET

A wide-ranging energy reform bill will face its first procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday.

Senators are expected to take a cloture vote on a substitute amendment to the legislation, with 60 votes required to move forward.

{mosads}But key Democrats have pledged to block the legislation unless Republicans agree to include aid for the Flint, Mich., drinking water crisis.

Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have introduced an amendment to the energy bill that would give up to $600 million to combat the crisis, though they’re both suggesting Democrats are willing to accept less funding.

However, Republicans have balked suggesting that any funding should go through the appropriations process and raising concerns about tying a local issue to the energy bill.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters on Wednesday evening that negotiators still hadn’t found a way to get an agreement on Flint but were continuing to talk.

Senators are expected to take the procedural vote at 11 a.m.

Meanwhile, the House will vote on legislation that would make it harder for agencies to require a bank to close an account unless they had a “material reason.”

Votes in the House are expected between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. They’re expected to be the House’s final votes of the week.

Tags Debbie Stabenow Lisa Murkowski