Familiar faces, but new terrain for US Congress

The energy policy of the new 106th Congress that will convene in Jan 1999 is unlikely to be much different from that of the 105th Congress that preceded it. Apart from the resignation of Speaker Newt Gingrich and the ongoing impeachment drama, the majority enjoyed by the Congressional Republicans, who are generally supportive of energy industry interests, is one of the narrowest in history, which will make it more difficult to carry through with their agenda. The real power in the House is Majority Whip Tom DeLay, an opponent of government regulation who once proposed repealing the Clean Air Act.