We had action in both the House and Senate this week on high energy prices, but it's still hard to tell if it is going to produce a broad bipartisan deal or just a long of election year finger pointing. For the second time this summer, the House sidetracked a bill from Democrats that would in part punish oil companies for not drilling on lands leased from the federal government.

The "DRILL" bill as it was called also had some other provisions that drew support in both parties, like banning the export of oil from Alaska.

The bill was also designed to speed up the leasing process in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska, which is to the west of ANWR and Prudhoe Bay.

The vote in favor was more than a majority, but Democrats again brought the bill up under special rules to provide for expedited consideration, and with those, a two-thirds vote is needed to approve the bill.  That did not happen.

There are only two weeks left before lawmakers head out on their August break.  The House seems likely to bring up legislation on energy again, but Democratic leaders there have made clear they aren't bringing up anything on new drilling offshore or in ANWR.

As for the Senate, we could be inching towards some kind of showdown, or getting closer to gridlock.

Senate Democrats have put a bill on the floor that is designed to combat speculation in oil futures markets.

While some Republicans say that is important, they want votes on other issues, like lifting the offshore ban on new oil and gas exploration.

Democratic leaders there don't want to open the bill up for any amendments, in part worried that Republicans could hijack their speculation bill.

Instead,  Democrats are offering a very limited deal in which the GOP would get to offer one comprehensive alternative.  (Those are usually easier to vote against, than if it is just one issue at play.)

Republicans didn't like the sound of it, but they are going to take the weekend to think about it.  Democrats have filed cloture on the motion to proceed to the speculation bill, so we could have a vote on that next Tuesday.