3 senators join forces to rescue climate bill

[depakid]

Source: AP

Three senators with differing political views are working behind the scenes to rescue troubled climate legislation. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., together with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said Wednesday they would work with the White House to patch together a bill that could pass the Senate. Meanwhile, a key Senate committee was considering advancing the bill without Republican participation.

"Our effort is to try to reach out to broaden the base of support," Kerry said at an afternoon news conference. "The key here is to really negotiate once, in a sense." Graham, who has come under fire in his home state for his support of action on climate change, said working on legislation was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to solve two problems: heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution and the country's dependence on foreign sources of fuel.

"If environmental policy is not good business policy, you will not get 60 votes," Graham warned. "The green economy is coming. We can either follow or lead."

The announcement came as the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for a second day delayed voting on any changes to a climate and energy bill introduced in late September by Kerry and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., because no Republicans showed up. Democratic aides, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision was not final, said late Wednesday that Democrats were considering advancing the bill out of committee without Republican participation. A vote could come as early as Thursday morning, and because no Republicans are expected to be present, the measure would have to be voted on without any amendments.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h5iS14YOIUrpdmPuNylwKcVpSnmAD9BP5FKO0

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Strange bedfellows

[Mithreal]

1. Negotiating once with Republicans and Lieberman? Good luck with that.

[earcandle]

2. Interesting. Will they really work for this or is this supposed to bail Lieberman out of his hole?

[NickB79]

3. By the time they're done with the bill we'll all be required to drive Hummers

And heat our houses with coal, if the health-care reform bill is any indication.

[Hekate]

4. Oh-ho, so that's what Al Gore was talking about on Rachel Maddow's show Wednesday

He said he had been working behind the scenes with Senators regarding the climate bill, and he seemed very optimistic about its progress. He said Lieberman had always been good on climate, which is one reason why he chose him to run with in 2000, but the presence of Lindsay Graham surprises me. People (in this instance Lieberman and Graham) have more than one side, even if the one we see most is unpleasant.

Gore also said he believed Lieberman would not cause undue problems on passage of HCR.

FWIW, Al Gore's opinion means a lot to me. More of the interview will be shown Thursday night.

Also, I think he made Rachel blush! Turns out he watches her show regularly and really likes the way she covers topics no one else will.

Hekate

[euphoria12leo]

5. I saw the interview last night.

I still don't trust Lieberman or Graham. Linsay will have to deal with getting attacked by the teabaggers again. He might flip. Republicans (including Joe) need to step away from the crazies and take a stand on something. Obama told them they need to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh boy was he right.


:think: