Senate Democrats blocked legislation on Tuesday that would have forced AI data centers to cover their own electricity costs to prevent rate hikes for consumers. The Ratepayer Protection Act failed to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, passing with a 57-43 vote. Supporters led by Senator Jon Husted accused Democrats of being obstructionists, while opponents described the bill as toothless.
The measure had previously passed the House with an overwhelming 417-3 vote. The failure of the bill has become a point of contention in the Ohio Senate race between Husted and Sherrod Brown, who has criticized Husted's advocacy for data centers. Despite the Democratic block, Senators Raphael Warnock, Jon Ossoff, Tammy Hassan, and Amy Klobuchar voted in favor of the act.
Key sources
- SOURCE@sahilkapur“57-43, with Rs + Warnock, Ossoff, Hassan and Klobuchar voting YES”x.com
- SUPPORT@mkraju“Senate Dems filibuster vulnerable GOP Sen. Jon Husted’s Ratepayer Protection Act”x.com
- SUPPORT@lauraeweiss16“The Democrats are obstructionists on lowering electricity prices for American consumers”x.com
- SUPPORT@sahilkapur“He faces @SherrodBrown, who calls Husted the face of data centers given his past advocacy”x.com
- SOURCEmarketbrief.now