Friday
Apr162010
Chances Of Climate Bill Passing This Year Are Slim, Says Expert
Friday, April 16, 2010 at 1:28PM
The odds of Congress passing a comprehensive climate control bill in 2010 are not very good, according to Margie Kriz Hobson with the National Journal. Hobson, an energy and environment reporter at the Washington, D.C. based political news organization, told Talk Radio News Service on Friday that simply put, Democrats who want a bill passed do not have the votes.
"I think that the chances of passing climate change legislation are less than 50/50," Hobson told TRNS correspondent Geoff Holtzman. "A dozen Democrats are saying they're not necessarily interested in a bill, and very few Republicans have even hinted that they'd consider voting for a bill, so you just don't have the numbers."
The Washington Post reported on Friday that Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) will unveil a climate proposal on April 26. According to sources, the legislation would include a measure to place carbon emissions caps on businesses and manufacturers. Hobson said most experts believe that many lawmakers just don't have the political will to support a cap-and-trade provision.
"People can definitely describe [cap-and-trade] as a tax," she said. "The House passed a climate bill last year, only the Democrats voted for it. And now, many have discovered that their votes are being used against them in their campaigns for re-election. [Senate Democrats] have to see the pain that it's causing their House colleagues."
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"I think that the chances of passing climate change legislation are less than 50/50," Hobson told TRNS correspondent Geoff Holtzman. "A dozen Democrats are saying they're not necessarily interested in a bill, and very few Republicans have even hinted that they'd consider voting for a bill, so you just don't have the numbers."
The Washington Post reported on Friday that Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) will unveil a climate proposal on April 26. According to sources, the legislation would include a measure to place carbon emissions caps on businesses and manufacturers. Hobson said most experts believe that many lawmakers just don't have the political will to support a cap-and-trade provision.
"People can definitely describe [cap-and-trade] as a tax," she said. "The House passed a climate bill last year, only the Democrats voted for it. And now, many have discovered that their votes are being used against them in their campaigns for re-election. [Senate Democrats] have to see the pain that it's causing their House colleagues."
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Reader Comments (1)
ClimateTax dead this year-2010?? We were hearing similar forecasts in February this year about healthcare (Obamacare) being dead for 2010 due to the election, and there were NO Republican sponsors of Obamacare,,,Go figure!! Fool me once, shame on you...