By Eric Zimmermann
Democrats put on a show of unity this afternoon, claiming a special caucus on energy legislation was an emotional and inspirational success of the first proportion.
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"A number of senators said this was the best caucus they've ever attended," Majority Leader Harry Reid said at a press conference after the meeting. "It was really very, very powerful. It was inspirational quite frankly."
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), who has made climate legislation his hallmark issue, said the meeting was one of the most successful he'd ever attended.
"This was without doubt one of the most motivating, energized, and even inspirational caucuses that I've been part of since I've been here in the Senate in 26 years," he said.
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When asked how Democrats would make good on the "polluter pays" mantra that leaders repeated throughout the press conference, Kerry spoke only generally.
"Well I think you'll have to see what we come to the floor with, but that's the principle that's going to guide us and that was uniform within the caucus," he said.
They now have to pass a comprehensive climate bill to prove they're serious.
Updated to add:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), co-author of the Senate’s comprehensive energy and climate change legislation, delivered the following remarks at the media stake-out after a full caucus discussion on bringing a bill to the floor this summer that puts American on the road to energy independence:
“I just left one of the most motivating, energized, and even inspirational caucuses that I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here in the Senate for twenty-six years. People spoke their minds. They spoke with passion and commitment about moving forward. Moving forward on what? On creating millions of jobs in America, on reducing our dependency on foreign oil, and securing control of our own energy future while reducing pollution based on the principle that the polluter pays for the pollution that they create.
“Everybody was in agreement that this is the moment. In January, the EPA has said it will move to regulate those sources of pollution in our country. Many companies have come to the table, many industries have come to the table. We have gas and coal and nuclear and renewable and alternative and energy efficiency and many others, all of whom believe this is the moment to create these jobs in our country and secure our energy future. We’re convinced that we can do it. We obviously need some Republicans to stand up and be with us, but we’re determined to bring a bill to the floor of the Senate that we think is reasonable, makes sense, and that will help Americans be able to grab a hold of the future and not leave it to China and India and Brazil and other countries that are moving much faster than we are.”
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