Senate Republicans Force 60-Vote Affordability Test to Aid Husted as Democrats Resist Data Center Bill
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 28
Senate Republicans Force 60-Vote Affordability Test to Aid Husted as Democrats Resist Data Center Bill
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 28
Summary
Wednesday’s planned 60-vote test would put Senate Democrats on record over a House-passed utility bill after Republicans kept the chamber in session instead of heading home to campaign.
The measure, approved 417-3 in the House, aims to shield ratepayers from electricity costs tied to AI data centers by pushing more of those costs onto the companies running them.
Republicans seized on Sen. Martin Heinrich’s objection to passing the bill by unanimous consent, arguing Democrats blocked an affordability measure to deny vulnerable Ohio Republican Jon Husted a campaign win.
Chuck Schumer and other Democrats say the House bill is too weak and largely voluntary, arguing they want a stronger mandatory approach rather than a narrower standard for utility regulators.
The fight shows how sharply utility bills and data-center growth have become midterm issues, with Republicans using the vote to go on offense in Ohio and other competitive Senate races.