Home heating assistance bill fails in Senate

Despite having 52 co-sponsors, a bipartisan measure to double home heating assistance to poor families failed in the Senate on Saturday morning, falling victim to the ongoing stalemate over how to address high gas prices.

A vote to take up the popular bill failed 50-35, with 6 Republican co-sponsors voting against taking it up.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voted against taking up the measure in order to "keep the Democrat leadership at the table until we do something serious about gas prices" arguing that the chamber should focus on crafting a comprehensive plan to address high energy costs before taking up specific pieces of the debate.

McConnell accused Democrats of bringing up the home heating issue as a standalone bill in order to avoid politically troublesome votes on domestic oil drilling, an argument that infuriated Democrats.

"Republicans’ opposition to this assistance is indefensible," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "They shoulder the burden of millions of low-income families, senior citizens and those with disabilities who are struggling and suffering to pay their ever-rising energy bills.”

Republican Sens. John Sununu of New Hampshire and Norm Coleman of Minnesota — both facing difficult reelection campaigns this fall — voted for the measure, despite objections from their leadership.

"To me, this is part of the energy debate," said Coleman. "This is central to the energy issue."

Speaking to reporters after the vote, Reid said he had no plans to bring the bill back to the floor anytime soon.

Reid said Republicans were "walking the plank" by objecting to the bill and would pay the price in November.

And with both sides desperately trying to paint the other into a corner on the energy issue, expect to hear plenty more about this vote in the future.