Cantwell at odds with Democrats over energy plan

By MATTHEW DALY ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER WASHINGTON -- Democrats took to the Senate floor last week to complain that a Republican senator was blocking a plan to help rescue thousands of home from foreclosure. "We have 8,400 people every day filing for foreclosure. That ought to alarm everybody," said Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn. "We have been able to put together a major proposal that addresses this issue, and yet as we stand here, I am stymied because one senator has decided this bill is not going to go forward." Dodd was referring to Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., who wants to add a $6 billion package of tax breaks for renewable energy producers. The tax incentives have bipartisan backing, but many Democrats oppose including them in the housing bill because they are not balanced by tax hikes to prevent an increase in the deficit.... [read full story]