House blocks refunds in Enron case

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House blocks refunds in Enron case
After heated debate, documents to be unsealed

By CHARLES POPE
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON -- The House, after a blistering face-off in which Democrats accused the White House of coddling Enron Corp., yesterday refused to order refunds for millions of Western consumers who were victimized by an artificial energy crisis in 2000 and 2001.

Republicans refused to allow the measure to come to a vote, insisting that Democrats were only attempting to embarrass President Bush and Republicans for their once-close ties to Enron. Moreover, they said that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is working hard to build a case against Enron and that Democrats should allow the agency to complete its mission.

"This isn't a witch hunt, it shouldn't be a witch hunt," Rep. Doug Ose, R-Calif., said. "Come over here and help us find solutions. We cannot sit here flailing away at past history."

Democrats, however, maintained that the ties between Enron and the Bush administration are directly related to what they consider a lax approach from regulators to repair the damage caused by Enron's actions.

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