Democrats gear up to tank data center legislation

Por Amelia Davidson — POLITICO – TOP Stories

Senate Democrats are preparing to sink data center legislation that passed overwhelmingly in the House, claiming the bill from a vulnerable Republican doesn’t go far enough in protecting Americans from rising power prices.

Ahead of a Wednesday vote to advance the Ratepayer Protection Act, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) lambasted the bill as “a fraud.” He suggested that Democrats instead wanted more forceful data center bills from Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

“We’re very united in opposition to the bill, whether it’s on cloture or at some other point,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said leaving a Democratic caucus lunch during which data centers were discussed.

Democrats have the chance to effectively kill the bill Wednesday when it’s brought to the floor, where it needs at least 60 votes to overcome a procedural hurdle. Schumer declined to say whether leadership would officially whip against the bill, but he made his own oppositions clear.

“Americans are demanding real guardrails on AI and data centers, but all the Republicans offer is a toothless messaging bill,” he said on the Senate floor Tuesday.

The bill is being championed by Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio) after passing the House in a resounding 417-3 vote earlier this month. Democrats have suggested that the bill is meant to bolster Husted’s reelection chances, as he is facing a tough election bid against former Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) also indicated Tuesday that he had reversed his position and will oppose the bill. He had stood alone last week as the sole Democrat to lend his support to the proposal .

“We want to get a real Ratepayer Protection Act,” he said. “I’m for ratepayer protections. This bill doesn’t do anything.”

That leaves Republicans without any guaranteed Democratic supporters ahead of the Wednesday vote. GOP leaders need at least seven Democratic supporters to move the bill forward if all Republicans back the bill.

Some of the moderate Democrats who could be part of that coalition expressed doubts about the bill Tuesday. The current bill language would require states to “consider” — but not mandate — a framework ensuring data centers pay for all energy costs and grid updates.

“I don’t think it does anything. I think it’s a political effort,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), saying he would oppose the bill absent major changes.

“I wish it actually had some teeth,” said Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

Some Democrats, including Peters, suggested they would be more open to the bill should it be allowed amendments on the floor. That would require an agreement from Republican leadership, though — and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the No. 2 Senate Democrat, also indicated that he didn’t see the value of getting on the bill and trying to strengthen it.

“No,” he said, about taking up the bill and trying to amend it. “We have some stronger versions.”

Jordain Carney, Nico Portuondo and Anthony Cruz contributed to this report.

Fonte: POLITICO – TOP Stories