In a move that could potentially get the climate bill back on track, it looks like bill supporters have possibly found a way to get Lindsey Graham back into the fold:
Supporters of a stalled Senate energy bill are floating a compromise that would put immigration reform on a fast track through the regular committee process and allow the energy bill to move forward on the Senate floor.
The proposal would tentatively set action on immigration for November after the midterm elections – a delay that even some Democrats would welcome.
The potential breakthrough came just a day after an the energy package was quietly forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency for analysis – another indication that the bill’s co-sponsors, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Ct.), and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have not given up on it.
Also, it looks like Reid is stopping being a jackass and is more open to considering the energy bill now.
On Tuesday, Reid softened his tone, at least on whether progress can be made on the energy reform measure.
"The energy bill is much further down the road as far as a product," he said. "So common sense dictates that if you have a bill that’s ready to go, that’s the one I’m going to go to because, immigration, we don’t have a bill yet."
While I'm not totally sold that this thing is fixed, I think this could go a long way to accomplish both of the Dems' objectives: act on the energy bill and continue to campaign against the Arizona law. In addition, I think this could mean that the immigration bill will be easier to pass, especially if the politics are not nearly so hot.
Anyway, just being the bearer of good news here...
UPDATE: Reid rejected the proposal. What a dumbshit.