Washington ? On the wall of the House chamber, the electronic vote tally box told of the dilemma facing Republican leaders. They were on the verge of an embarrassing defeat, two votes shy of getting a contentious energy bill approved and over to the Senate.

Democrats demanded that the roll call – which already had gone long over its scheduled time of 5 minutes, be gaveled to a close. After a raucous extra 40 minutes, the bill, which includes measures to encourage new refinery construction in response to the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, was approved by a vote of 212-210.

“Shame, shame, shame,” came the chorus from the Democratic side of the aisle. On the other side, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, who had largely crafted the bill, finally could exhale. He had won.

In the final 15 minutes, three GOP votes shifted in favor of the bill, turning near defeat into a victory for the Republican leaders.

Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla., one of the three, said he had been convinced by House Speaker Dennis Hastert, of Illinois to make the switch. “He worked me over a little,” Young said. Attempts to reach the other two, Reps. Jim Gerlach, of Pennsylvania, and Wayne Gilchrest, of Maryland, were unsuccessful late Friday. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was on the floor but did not vote, despite intense efforts by GOP leaders.

Democrats and some GOP moderates called the bill a sop to rich oil companies that does nothing to ease energy costs like the soaring heating bills expected this winter, while easing environmental requirements.

The bill would streamline government permits for refineries, open federal lands including closed military bases for refinery construction, and limit the number of gasoline blends refiners have to produce, eliminating many blends designed to reduce air pollution.

President Bush welcomed the vote. “I commend the House for passing legislation that would increase our refining capacity and help address the cost of gasoline, diesel fuels and jet fuels,” he said in a statement.

Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who recently stepped down temporarily as majority leader after being indicted in Texas over a campaign finance issue, was as active as ever, administering pressure on wavering lawmakers in the crowded, noisy House chamber.

Afterward, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, of California, called it all “a shameless display of the Republican culture of corruption,” a theme she has used in recent days on a number of issues since DeLay’s indictment in Texas on conspiracy and money laundering charges in connection with campaign finance activities.

No Democrats voted for the legislation, although three initially favored it, only to change their minds after talking to Pelosi and Rep. Stenny Hoyer, of Maryland, the second ranking Democrat.