A major bone of contention was the proposed $21 billion in new taxes, to be levied mostly on the oil industry in an effort to subsidise renewable power development.

In a bid to push the legislation through quickly, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic majority leader, removed the tax aspect of the bill. He later told reporters that a slimmed down version of the bill was more likely to pass in the final vote, which could come before the end of the week.

In earlier sessions Democratic