JUST BARELY - AT 7:41 P.M. ET:  The House has barely passed the Democratic energy bill:

WASHINGTON – In a triumph for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed sweeping legislation Friday that calls for the nation's first limits on pollution linked to global warming and aims to usher in a new era of cleaner, yet more costly energy.

The vote was 219-212, capping months of negotiations and days of intense bargaining among Democrats. Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs.

COMMENT:  Passage by seven votes in the House, which is far to the left of the Senate, is no great victory.  If reason prevails, this bill should die a painful death in the Senate, or face extreme modification.  That modification would require a Senate-House reconciliation conference, which may go nowhere or drag on for months.

We may, with the help of moderate Democrats, defeat this monstrosity and go back to the planning stage for a thoughtful energy program.

June 26, 2009