Congress To Take Up Energy Bills Next Week WASHINGTON D.C. (Associated Press) -


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he sees "increasing consensus" about what to do next to tackle the country's energy problems.

With the House and Senate planning to take up energy legislation next week, Republicans and Democrats have moved closer to agreement on some expansion of offshore oil drilling.

Senators are discussing ideas for dealing with the energy issue Friday in a daylong summit with academics and executives from oil, auto and other industries.

Republican leader Mitch McConnell cautioned against taking "half measures." McConnell says conservation alone isn't enough, and it's essential to increase domestic oil production.

Democrat Reid says the only "silver bullet" is reducing the use of fossil fuels by developing alternative energy sources and encouraging conservation. © Copyright 2012, Associated Press