Talk Radio News Service: News, Politics, Media

By Julianne LaJeunesse - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works met for the second of three days to hammer out the details of S.1733, otherwise known as the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.

Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.) seemed focused on the need for global climate change policy, and less on Republican criticisms that the Kerry-Boxer legislation would pose financial risks to individuals and businesses.

Cardin suggested that industries that believe they would be negatively affected by the legislation, "take a look at what this bill does in its entirety." The Maryland Democrat called on leaders to create enforcement measures in December, when the international committee meets in Copenhagen, to deal with global climate change.

"I would hope that we would get the support of industry here, working with our colleagues around the world, to say 'look, we do need an enforcement in the Copenhagen agreements,'" Cardin said. "It would be far better if Copenhagen deals with enforcement so that there's an international regime that says that if a country does not do its obligations internationally, such as China or India, or any other countries... that there will be an assessment on that cost of what the carbon reduction should have been."

Senator Kit Bond (R-Mo.) disagreed with Cardin, arguing that the legislation could have unforseen impacts on families.

At one point, Bond presented a giant stack of cards that he said were delivered to him from over 30,000 of his constituents. According to Bond, those who signed the cards did so because "they want to live with reasonable and responsible regulations, not burdensome mandates."

Thursday marks the final day of hearings on the bill.