In light of the recent balanced budget agreement, some House Republicans believe a plan to eliminate the Department of Energy may get a closer look from some of their colleagues, mainly because the proposal is being touted as saving more than $20 billion over five years.
"There's a lot to be attained to reach a balanced budget by 2002," Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., said Thursday. "This is still very feasible."
Tiahrt and Sen. Rod Grams, R-Minn., introduced the bill Thursday with the backing of former Defense Secretary Weinberger, who said the department's nuclear weapons stockpile and cleanup duties could easily be transferred to the Defense Department.
DOE officials are skeptical about the potential savings, saying the legislators cannot back up their cost saving figures. The proposal also is expected to run into opposition from Senate Budget Chairman Pete Domenici, R-N.M., who was instrumental in sinking a similar plan during the 104th Congress.
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