This appeared to fly under the radar here so I thought I'd send it along. The Washington Post reported this week that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling for a climate bill to finished up and ready for a vote as soon as possible.
Senators John Kerry and Lindsey Graham have been working together (along with Joe Lieberman of all people) on legislation and Reid is lighting a fire under their backsides.
"The majority leader is deadly serious about making progress this year on climate and energy reform," Kerry said in a statement. "He's been a hero every step of the process and he's been in constant communication. Senators Lieberman, Graham and I have been meeting every day and we're on a short track here, piecing together legislation and working with our colleagues so it can be finished and rolled out soon."
...
"Senator Reid made it clear to me the other day that he wants a bill and he wants it soon," Kerry said. "I can't give you an exact timetime, but we are working very very dilligently with our colleagues and all of the stakeholders to think this through carefully and get this done right, and get it done in a way that can pass the Senate."
I'm hoping that "get it done in a way that can pass the Senate" is not code words for "water it down to the point of being completely toothless". As someone that leans strongly toward preferring a carbon tax over a cap-and-trade scheme, I think it's important that they not just give away gifts to polluting industries. That said, Reid's eagerness to move forward is very encouraging.
On a related note, 1Sky along with a coalition of groups including Repower America, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and all the groups associated with the Clean Energy Works initiative have a big event coming up this week called "72 Hours for Clean American Power".
From the 1Sky announcement:
From March 2-4, 1Sky supporters are joining with dozens of organizations – including climate and environmental, labor, business, veterans' advocacy, and many more – representing millions of Americans, calling on the U.S. Senate to stop Senator Lisa Murkowski's efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act and pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation that will put us on a path towards energy independence and secure our nation. Join the movement and sign-up today!
Click the link and make some calls!
I'm just sayin'...