WASHINGTON — Sens. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.; and Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., are among a bipartisan group of senators urging their respective party leaders to convene an energy summit after Congress’s July 4 recess.

The 10 senators — five Democrats and five Republicans — issued their call to Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., in a letter Thursday.

“We know that developing this legislation may take us beyond our usual policy preferences, but the American people deserve our mutual commitment to act,” the senators wrote.

DAVIS: AMT PATCH NOW PAID FOR

Rep. Lincoln Davis, D-Tenn., praised the House’s passage this past week of a bill that protects about 25 million Americans from having to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax.

The AMT was created in the 1960s to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay an equitable share of taxes but the income brackets were never adjusted for inflation, causing more and more middle-class citizens to be affected.

Recent attempts to “patch” the AMT hit roadblocks when fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats, including Rep. Davis, insisted on pay-as-you-go rules requiring revenue-generating offsets to pay for any lost revenue.

The Blue Dogs prevailed and inserted into the bill provisions that would more than double the tax rate on income from hedge funds and rescind some oil and gas tax breaks.

“To avoid passing further debt and burden on to our children and grandchildren, we must continue to see that the bills we pass are paid for,” Rep. Davis said.

Republicans mostly voted against the bill, protesting the pay-go offsets. The bill faces an uncertain fate in the Senate.

WAMP URGES FIRMER STANCE ON CHINA

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a frequent critic of China’s government, appeared on CNN’s “Lou Dobbs Tonight” this past Tuesday and said the United States should insist China be more responsible on human rights, the environment and intellectual property.

“We’re playing defense with China because everybody in Washington ... thinks that we somehow have to suck up to them because they’re such a big market, potentially, for us,” Rep. Wamp said. “I don’t think we should have the trade agreements we have with them until they respect human rights and individual liberty because you can’t have free trade without free people.”

ALEXANDER PRAISED FOR SCIENCE SUPPORT

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., this past week received the “Champion of Science” award from the Science Coalition for his advocacy for basic research funding.

“Sen. Alexander knows first-hand the role basic research plays in driving our economy and keeping America competitive in the global marketplace,” said John Edward Sexton, president of New York University.

The coalition praised Sen. Alexander for his efforts in passing the America Competes Act last year, which boosts funding for science research and teaching.

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