Republicans’ last-ditch effort to lower costs ahead of midterms fails in key Senate vote

Senate Democrats stopped a Republican bill meant to address electricity costs tied to the growth of data centers, 57 to 43, with just four Democrats siding with Republicans. The defeat leaves Republicans without a legislative accomplishment on affordability as senators prepare to leave Washington until after the midterms, when control of Congress is in play. The House had already approved the Ratepayer Protection Act with broad bipartisan support, so Democrats now face criticism for killing it, according to CNN.

The legislation would have directed state regulators to consider a federal standard making data center companies absorb their own grid costs instead of shifting them onto household customers. Democrats argued that was toothless because it was voluntary and carried no enforcement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer mocked it as "something that is optional." Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont said a bill with that title but no rate relief would anger voters and looked like an eleventh-hour political maneuver.

The outcome is especially awkward for Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, who is in a tight race against former Sen. Sherrod Brown and who pressed GOP leaders to stay in town for the vote. Brown has run several ads on data centers, and in August the National Republican Senatorial Committee privately described the issue as an anchor around Husted's neck. Husted called the bill "the only game in town." His spokesperson Amy Natoce blamed Democrats, while Brown spokesperson Lauren Chou faulted Husted for bringing data centers to Ohio. Missouri Sen.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →