Climate bill dies in Senate
June 6th, 2008 by Jim JustGristmill reports that the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act died this morning. Failing to get the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture by a vote of 48-36, the Democratic leadership yanked the bill from the floor.
More votes were available – Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Joe Biden (D-Del.), and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) all submitted statements saying they would have voted for the bill had they been present. The leadership sees a silver lining, saying this vote puts them on track to get this done next year.
Let’s hope by next year we’re ready to take a much bigger step. Mark Hertsgaard at The Nation points out that, contrary to the bill’s stated goal of 71% emissions cuts by 2050 (a goal that’s far too little & too late), the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that it would deliver cuts of just 25%. This is largely because the bill gives away 49% of the emissions permits, thus reducing the incentive for corporations and consumers to switch to greener energy sources.