Senate Democrats rejected two Republican-backed bills focused on data center utility costs and restricting congressional stock trading, just before the election recess. Democrats argued the data center bill lacked enforcement and the stock trading ban was a superficial measure with a “poison pill” voter ID provision.
Republicans are poised to use the votes against Democrats on the campaign trail, highlighting what they call “commonsense” legislation blocked by the opposition.
In a move that has ignited political debate just before the election recess, Senate Democrats on Wednesday voted down two Republican-led bills. One aimed to address escalating utility costs driven by data centers, while the other sought to ban members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Democrats largely criticized the proposals as insufficient and politically motivated.
The bill targeting data center utility costs, known as the Ratepayer Protection Act, failed with a 57-43 vote. The second bill, the Stop Insider Trading Act, which also controversially included a voter-identification provision, was defeated along party lines, 53-47. Both measures required 60 votes to overcome the Senate filibuster.
Republicans are expected to leverage these votes as campaign material for the upcoming midterm elections. Senate Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the Democrats' stance, stating, "EVERY Senate Democrat just joined 94% of House Democrats in voting AGAINST banning congressional stock trading." He argued that the bill offered "the accountability the American people demand," but was blocked by Democrats.
The Ratepayer Protection Act, which had previously passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support (417-3), proposed a regulatory framework for states to consider. This framework would require large artificial intelligence data centers to cover their own energy expenses rather than burdening customers. However, Democrats voiced strong opposition. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., derided the bill as a "toothless messaging bill" and a "fraud," pointing out its optional nature as a key flaw.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., a proponent of a national moratorium on new data centers until developers can prove they will bear their full operational and construction costs, dismissed the legislation as "a silly piece of nonsense." She emphasized the need for "something of substance" before she would vote in favor.
Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico echoed these concerns, having previously blocked the bill. Senator Jon Husted, R-Ohio, a key proponent of the data center bill, finds himself in a closely contested reelection race. Republicans like Husted may have seen these bills as opportunities for political wins, especially as data centers have become a significant campaign issue due to concerns over energy consumption and utility costs.
The congressional stock trading bill, which passed the House in July, aimed to prohibit sitting members of Congress from purchasing individual stocks. However, it did not mandate the divestment of existing portfolios, a point of contention for some Democrats advocating for a stricter ban. Adding to the controversy, Republicans attached a voter identification provision, which Democrats largely oppose.
Schumer characterized the stock trading proposal as a "theatrical farce" and the voter ID component as a "poison pill." Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va., echoed this sentiment, calling the Republican proposal a "half measure" and suggesting that a genuine desire for a stock ban would have led to a different approach on the Senate floor.
Despite these criticisms, Senator Husted promoted both bills as "commonsense, bipartisan bills" on X. He argued that "Lowering energy costs, requiring photo ID to vote, and banning stock trading for members of Congress could be bipartisan wins," and asserted that "Senate Democrats are the only ones standing in the way of delivering what the American people have asked us to do."
— Irit Skulnik contributed to this story.
