Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said yesterday that he would try to bring a global warming bill to the floor before the end of summer, another indication that both sides of Capitol Hill want to send major climate legislation to President Obama during his first year in office.

"We have to take a whack at it," the Nevada Democrat told the Associated Press in an interview, explaining that failure to act "would be neglectful."

Reid repeated his plans to take up a more limited energy proposal during the next six-week work period that includes a national renewable electricity standard. But turning to the more complex climate issue, he added, "And then later this year, hopefully late this summer, do the global warming part of it."

Reid's comments to AP mark the first time he has disclosed a timetable for the next big floor debate on climate change. Earlier this month, Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told reporters she would move a global warming bill out of committee before the end of the year, but she deferred to Reid when asked about a floor schedule.

Reid's plans also dovetail with those of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has pledged a first-ever floor vote this year on a climate bill. Pelosi has said she will work from a comprehensive energy and climate package that House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) plans to mark up before Memorial Day. Pelosi is also expected to have help from the House Ways and Means Committee and several other panels that are holding hearings and considering legislation on the twin issues of global warming and energy policy.

"We have to set goals in order to get work done," a Senate Democratic aide explained today about the leadership's aggressive schedule for moving a climate bill.

Democrats and Obama face many obstacles in trying to move a climate bill. Advocates likely are within sight of a majority of votes, but it will take considerable deal-making among Democrats, let alone trying to win over a few Republicans. Heated regional debates are expected over the legislation's economic effects, as well as international trade and where and how to distribute what may amount to hundreds of billions of dollars in emission allowances.

"Given our economic challenges and the need to develop an energy strategy, I think attempting to do a climate change bill at the same time is unrealistic and frankly unadvisable," warned Marc Morano, a spokesman for Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).

At this point, it is unclear exactly what type of global warming bill the Democratic leaders want to move this year—and in what sequence with energy. While Reid wants to keep energy and climate separate, Waxman has said he is inclined to bunch the two items together into one measure.

Speaking with reporters last week, Waxman said he had not yet discussed strategy for global warming and energy legislation with the Obama administration. "I'd be interested in their recommendations, but we'll have to make our own decisions," he said.

6 Comments

1. 1. Dr Albert Gortenbull 12:39 PM 2/21/09

   "Cap and trade" will be the final nail in the coffin for America's weakened economy. Both NASA's Dr. James Hansen and environmental guru James Lovelock have stated that carbon trading is a fraud. But guess where congress is headed - yep - carbon trading. It may be good for Al Gore, but not for America. Respectfully, Albert

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2. 2. Nathaniel 02:06 PM 2/22/09

   A cap and trade system will require a lot of infrastructure to make work. There will be a lot of corruption, and some may even profit from pollution with such a system. A carbon tax is simple, easy and tackles the problem at the source. If you tax ALL fossil fuels based on the amount of carbon they release when burned, then you take care of the problem right there. You give people tax rebates when they sequester carbon or otherwise use the fossil fuel in away that does not release carbon into the atmosphere, such as making plastic. You then take the taxes earned from the carbon tax and you divide it in half. Half goes to low-income families in the form of a tax rebate, because the poor are the ones who would be hit the hardest from the increased energy costs while the rich would be using more energy but can afford the carbon tax. The other half goes into rebates for those who purchase alternative energy solutions such as wind and solar power systems.
   
   That is simple and easy. Carbon tax just makes more sense. The cap and trade system to far too complex. Economic pressure is the only sure way to reduce carbon emissions, period. There are just too many ways to cheat a cap and trade system.
   
   While it might not do the economy much good to increase the cost of energy, it needs to be done. If people are encouraged to move to alternative energy for monetary reasons, it will be more quickly adopted. People don't care about the environment, they care about their pocket books. If you hit them where it hurts, they will react. That's the only way to go about it. I think rising energy prices are already causing a shift towards alternative energy, and a carbon tax will certainly help accelerate such a shift. As alternative energy gets cheaper, the economic hardship caused by the carbon tax will be alleviated and eventually reduced to nothing.

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3. 3. Shoshin 11:08 AM 2/23/09

   The whole concept of this is asinine. Please refer to this webite:
   
   http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1063707.html
   
   Each and every penny spent on "fighting climate change" will be wasted, as completely utterly and totally as if it were spent on burnt offerings to a Golden Calf.

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4. 4. mavericks1 03:55 PM 2/23/09

   Climate change is complete BS. Lets not spend money on this. Instead we should use our resources as efficiently as possible until the free market comes up with alternatives to fossil fuels. We all know that alternatives are on the way and every year we get closer. Lets not waste money on something that is not even proven. To me and a lot of others it is a scare tactic employed by Democrats to grab more power and infringe upon our rights as Americans. Before the measures we take to combat so called climate change will take effect the free market will have come up with an alternative to fossil fuels.

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5. 5. Natedog 11:34 PM 2/23/09

   You will have to forgive me if I care more about the health of the planet than the rights you think you are entitled too.
   
   I like to think of climate change as a Catch-22 topic. If you actually understood the science behind climate change you would have little choice but to accept the findings of the scientific community which claims not only that climate change is occurring but that it is largely due to human activities. On the other hand, if you do not understand the science you can freely oppose it because frankly, you don't really know what the hell is going on any ways.
   

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6. 6. eco-steve 03:17 PM 2/25/09

   If nothing is done about Climate Change now, the bill for our grandchildren will be colossal.

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