They can no longer use the Republican Congress as their foil.
The Republican Congress passed hardly any significant legislation in 1998.
He also worked with the Republican Congress to pass the first balanced federal budget in 30 years.
The money, however, is still subject to annual appropriation by the Republican Congress.
"The Republican Congress was willing to narrow but not eliminate them."
But any sort of energy tax is likely to face deadly opposition in the Republican Congress.
"We're about to have the first Republican Congress in 40 years," he said.
The drive was approved in the budget passed by the Republican Congress last year.
He wants to keep his Republican Congress so they can try again.
"Someone asked me yesterday if the Republican Congress is going too far," he said.