(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON – The House has approved a modest bill to promote “clean energy” and increase energy efficiency while phasing out the use of coolants in air conditioners and refrigerators that are considered a major driver of global warming. The House approved the bill, 220-185, Thursday, sending it to the Senate, where a separate energy bill is pending. The Senate bill, like the House measure, would phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, that are used as coolants, after an internal dispute among Senate Republicans was resolved earlier this month. It also boosts electric cars and programs to finance clean energy projects. House Republicans disputed that, saying the bill would cost more than $135 billion while including no serious reforms.

The campaign-season bill seemed certain to move through the House along partisan lines. It has no chance of passing the Republican-led Senate, but the day's House showdown underscored that health care looms as a major battleground in this year's elections. Democrats were poised to use House GOP votes against the measure in campaign ads for this fall's elections. If there's one word for this, cruel," Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said of GOP efforts to scuttle the health care law. The White House filed papers with the Supreme Court last week supporting an effort by GOP-led states to have the entire Obamacare" statute declared unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Republican Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced on Monday that he will not seek reelection. In his statement, Walden expressed confidence, however, that Republicans can get back the House. "But," the congressman added, "I also know that for me, the time has come to pursue new challenges and opportunities." The Oregon Republican is a former chairman of the House Republican campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee. The current chair of the NRCC, Republican Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota, called Walden "a class act and political juggernaut who will be sorely missed in Washington" in a statement reacting to the news.