Reply #3: Another good read in Time:

[beachmom]

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2009/11/04/kerry-graham-lieberman-launch-climate-change-framework/

Having twittered that the trio are “drafting” legislation, I received a call from Kerry's office. Apparently, creating a framework based off the six versions passed by the relevant committees of jurisdiction and deciding what can and cannot pass with 60 votes (even after I directly asked Kerry in today's press conference if this will form the basis of the final bill on the floor and he said, “Yes, it will”) does not construe “drafting” legislation. So, let's think of Kerry, Graham and Lieberman as Reid's very own climate czars: they will whittle down ideas and take him their final recommendations.

The move bolsters the chances that some climate change legislation will make it to the Senate floor. Though any timeline is still complicated by the eternally delayed process of health care reform. After all, the 2010 elections are rapidly approaching and the odds of passing a massive climate change bill grow dimmer as every month ticks by. To that end, rumors yesterday swirled on the Hill that the bill may get shunted till after the 2010 midterm elections. “Yes, I've heard that,” Senator Jay Rockefeller told reporters. “And the idea makes me sad.”