WASHINGTON – A bipartisan coalition led by Sens. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, and Ben Nelson, D-Neb., sent a letter to President Bush on Tuesday calling for a bipartisan national summit with the president to develop a consensus proposal that addresses the energy crisis.

“There is no excuse, no reason why the White House and the Congress cannot begin to set partisanship and politics aside to develop a consensus energy proposal and end the current paralysis,” Snowe said. “This is a decisive moment where party affiliation must be cast aside for the best interests of our country. This effort cannot be without executive leadership and so we are calling on the president to seize this moment of opportunity to join with us and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive energy policy.”

“With energy prices skyrocketing and the costs to Americans getting more burdensome by the day, it is imperative that all elected officials work together to try and find common-sense solutions – and fast,” said Nelson.

Also signing the letter were Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Ben Cardin, D-Md.; Judd Gregg, R-N.H.; Evan Bayh, D-Ind;, John Sununu, R-N.H.;, Tim Johnson, D-S.D.; Norm Coleman, R-Minn.; Carl Levin, D-Mich.; and Roger Wicker, R-Miss.