Oil export ban is last obstacle to passage of spending bill

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- A clash in Congress over a ban on oil exports is the last obstacle to passing a spending bill by the end of 2015.

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on Tuesday that Republicans must accept a deal, suggesting an extension of tax credits for renewable energy, or move forward on the omnibus spending bill without removal of the 40-year-old ban on exporting U.S.oil.

"We've made multiple offers to the Republicans that were certainly doable, reasonable, and all the Republicans had to do was say yes. Saying yes to any of these offers... over the past few days, especially the last three days, the ink would be dry. The entire package would be filed. If Republicans think reducing our carbon emissions and encouraging the use for renewable energy is an unacceptable price to pay, we can move the rest of the package without the oil export ban," Reid said.

The $1.1 trillion spending bill, and an accompanying package of $750 million in assorted tax breaks, is expected to come to a vote on Thursday. Removal of the longstanding restriction on exporting oil is one of the changes sought by Republicans.

Lawmakers are making progress, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Tuesday, adding, "That doesn't mean negotiators have surmounted every obstacle, but it does signal a sign of forward momentum."

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has said that a that resumption in oil exports from the United States could serve U.S. foreign policy, telling the Senate Energy Committee last week, "I am concerned about continued violence in Libya, which is a significant source of light crude oil for our allies in Europe. If we're smart enough to lift the ban on our oil exports, our nation could sell light crude to our partners in Europe and help in that way."