Mother Jones: Is There a Tri-Partisan Path Forward for a Climate Bill?

[beachmom]

Really good read.

http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/11/there-tri-partisan-path-forward-climate-bill

With debate of a climate bill at a stand-still in the Environment and Public Works Committee, a bipartisan group of Senators on Wednesday announced that they're working on an alternative path to passing a bill.

John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said they are meeting with fellow senators and with administration officials to work out a proposal on climate and energy legislation that they will hand over to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that incorporates the components of legislation being crafted within the various committees of jurisdiction along with work with senators outside those committees.

...

What is important is both the public appearance by Graham and the emergence of Lieberman as the third wingman. In his remarks, Graham seemed to distance himself from Republicans on the Environment and Public Works Committee that have thus far boycotted markup of the Kerry-Boxer bill. "My hope is that participation is seen as positive," said Graham. "If you can't participate in solving the problem, then why are you up here?"

...

Lieberman has been working with other senators on his own, particularly on the nuclear power issue, but this is his first public entry into the debate this year. Of course, Lieberman's recent statements on health care have made him not the most popular legislator among Democrats, but he has a long history on climate legislation, dating back to the first climate bill in 2003, the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. "He's been a great leader on climate in years past," said Jeremy Symons, senior vice president of conservation and education at the National Wildlife Federation. "He has all sorts of ability to bring people together. He's a great addition to the power team."

This is an interesting development. It shows things have been going horribly wrong in the EPW committee, with Inhofe and his antics. I think there may be something to this runaround approach.

In case you missed it, watch the Kerry/Graham/Lieberman press conference here:

http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/11/04/HP/R/25045/Partisan+Divide+Affects+Climate+Markup.aspx