Innovation Council Action Director of Government Affairs Nicholas Elliot accused Senate Democrats on Wednesday of shifting the burden of higher electricity bills onto American households after lawmakers blocked the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act.
The advocacy organization issued its criticism after the proposal failed in a 57-43 procedural vote. The measure needed 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and advance to debate, according to a report released Wednesday.
Elliot said the legislation reflected a principle promoted by President Donald Trump and previously approved by the House: large data centers should cover the costs they impose on the power grid.
“President Trump championed a simple principle: Data centers should pay their own way,” Elliot said. “The House of Representatives overwhelmingly agreed. Senate Democrats had the opportunity to reach across the aisle and make life more affordable for Americans, but they failed to do what’s right.”
The bill, introduced by Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO), cleared the House by a 417-3 vote on Sept. 16. Progressive Democrats Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Summer Lee (D-PA), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL) cast the only votes against it.
Elliot pointed out that 206 House Democrats supported the legislation later rejected by Senate Democrats. He also said the Senate Democratic caucus had blocked the proposal twice before lawmakers left Washington to campaign.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said the opposition appeared connected to the election-year schedule.
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“Given the overwhelming support for this measure in the House, it’s difficult to conclude that Senate Democrats blocked this bill for any reason other than the desire to deny Republicans another win in an election year,” Thune said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) defended the decision, arguing that the measure would have little practical impact. In a floor speech Tuesday, he called it a “toothless messaging bill” and said Democrats favored a legally binding mandate instead of a voluntary system that states could choose to disregard.
Four Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure: Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
Wednesday’s vote represented the second time the legislation had been stopped. Earlier, Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) rejected a unanimous-consent request from the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH), saying the proposal did not go far enough.
Husted wrote on X Thursday that lawmakers from both parties and across the political spectrum had supported the legislation.
The Senate vote came during the chamber’s final days before the November midterm elections, as Democrats and Republicans competed to frame themselves as the party best positioned to address rising living costs. The Senate also rejected a separate ban on stock trading that day by a 53-47 vote.
