WASHINGTON — Defending their bipartisan energy package, Republicans in the so-called “Gang of 10” — including Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga. — are fending off accusations from conservatives that they have given political cover to Democrats.

Sen. Corker said many opponents of the package simply are trying to use energy as a wedge issue for political purposes.

“Politics is trumping policy right now,” Sen. Corker said. “It’s really, candidly, grotesque to watch that. Energy is a major issue, and I know there are many in my party that don’t want to solve it. They want to leave it as a political issue for the fall campaign, which is an abomination.”

The $84 billion package, drafted by 10 senators, five Republican and five Democrats, includes some oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and off the Atlantic coasts of four states, including Georgia. It also invests in alternative energy and eliminates a tax loophole that has allowed oil companies to pay fewer royalties for oil and gas production.

Conservative critics say the proposal does not provide enough offshore oil drilling, including in Alaska, and that raising the royalties will, in turn, cause oil prices to rise. The critics have ranged from opinion columnists with the Wall Street Journal to talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

“What they did was throw every vulnerable Democrat, and (Democratic presidential candidate Barack) Obama, a life preserver,” wrote columnist Kimberly Strassel in the Wall Street Journal. “The Sierra Club couldn’t have penned it better.”

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has applauded the Gang of 10 package.

Sen. Isakson said the bipartisan package is the only realistic one that can garner 60 votes in the Senate, avoiding a filibuster. The Senate has been deadlocked the last two months over energy, with Democrats refusing to allow more drilling while Republicans insisted on more drilling.

Sen. Isakson said the Gang of 10 proposal has helped bring about a thaw in the negotiations. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., this past weekend indicating her willingness to consider some legislation that includes limited drilling.

“It’s caused people to talk about solutions,” Sen. Isakson said. “There’s no one silver bullet that’s going to solve the energy problem.”

A similar House package has been introduced by Reps. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, and John Peterson, R-Pa., but it also has gotten mixed reactions.

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a co-sponsor of the bill, said Congress needs to consider “all of the above” solutions that include drilling but also significant investment in alternative fuels.

“The American people are not accepting any of the excuses coming from the Congress on why we’re not tapping into our resources and diversifying our supply,” Rep. Wamp said.

But Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Ga., said he feels the package is too weak on the drilling provisions. He wants to see drilling allowed in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, a dealbreaker for most Democrats.

“To make it off limits goes along with the agenda the Democrats have adopted,” he said. “Without a greater opening up of our coastal areas, I don’t think we’ll have the impact that we need.”

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