The omnibus energy legislation still hasn't garnered enough support to attach itself to the highway bill, despite receiving an $18 billion cost trimming. CQ is reporting that Senate Republicans are still in disagreement over the best way to move the measure forward. Senator Pete Domenici (R-New Mexico), the chief sponsor of the bill, left after the GOP weekly luncheon Tuesday and announced there was "no use" trying to connect the energy bill to the upcoming SAFETEA measure, despite having cut $3 billion from energy saving contracts and $1.5 billion for natural gas drilling research in an attempt to gain more support.

On the House side, Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) indicated the House might attempt a similar manuever to combine the energy and highway bills that has so far failed on the Senate side. This technique would ensure the MTBE liability protection clause found in the House version would be included in the final measure.