SENATE CLIMATE BILL ADVANCES DESPITE GOP BOYCOTT, AG COMPLIMENT BILL INTRODUCED
News Date November 10, 2009
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, ignored the concerns of Republicans on her panel and passed the Clean Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733) without any opportunity to amend. Due to committee rules Chairwoman Boxer could not conduct a full markup of the legislation without at least two members of the minority party present. However, she did have the ability to call up and pass the legislation out of the committee if there was a sufficient quorum. Following a few days of opening statements and briefings from the EPA and committee staff, the final tally was 11-1. The lone dissent came from Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), a key Senate moderate, potentially foreshadowing the difficulties Democrats will have compiling sixty votes on the floor.
Meanwhile, Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced legislation, the Clean Energy Partnerships Act, to provide agriculture with a framework for more opportunities in offset markets, increased research funding, and further protection in any comprehensive climate change legislation. As the situation develops in the Senate, it is likely that several committees will have a chance to markup components of climate legislation within their jurisdiction, including the Senate Agriculture Committee. Already today, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on potential climate legislation. Following completion of committee work Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will merge the various bills into one comprehensive package. (Contact: David Hickey)