Lawmakers head home after impasse

WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers sped for the exits Friday as Congress was to begin a five-week recess.

As its last major act, the House passed by a 409-4 vote its first spending bill, a $72.7 billion measure awarding increases to veterans programs and military base construction projects.

More noteworthy, however, was what Congress failed to do: pass energy legislation and other measures aimed at lowering the price of gasoline.

Senate Republicans blocked a bill aimed at curbing speculation in oil markets, while a similar bill and several others by House Democrats failed to advance after party leaders brought them to the floor under procedures that required supermajorities to pass. That procedure blocked Republicans from forcing a vote on opening new areas to oil drilling.

Republicans have been pressing to allow oil exploration in areas that are currently off limits, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Democratic leaders have been resolute in blocking new offshore exploration, even as oil patch members and moderates in the party support the idea.