I applaud Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman for their tireless work in drafting this important legislation. This legislation will put America on the path to a clean energy economy that will create American jobs building the solar panels, wind blades and the car batteries of the future. It will strengthen our national security by beginning to break our dependence on foreign oil. And it will protect our environment for our children and grandchildren.
Americans know what's at stake by continuing our dependence on fossil fuels. But the challenges we face -- underscored by the immense tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico -- are reason to redouble our efforts to reform our nation's energy policies. For too long, Washington has kicked this challenge to the next generation. This time, the status quo is no longer acceptable to Americans. Now is the time for America to take control of our energy future and jumpstart American innovation in clean energy technology that will allow us to create jobs, compete, and win in the global economy.
The House of Representatives has already taken historic action with passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I look forward to engaging with Senators from both sides of the aisle and ultimately passing a bill this year.
Kerry and Lieberman, minus Graham, introduced the bill today
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said the energy and climate bill he is unveiling Wednesday would block offshore oil-and-gas drilling while the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion and oil spill is investigated. The Hill
CNN's headline reads: "Graham move imperils Obama agenda," which is really funny. Graham is threatening not to cooperate on climate change if democrats take up immigration reform (I don't know why they can't do both). CNN's dramatic flair:
In a stunning move that could throw a major roadblock in front of two of President Obama's biggest legislative initiatives, Sen. Lindsey Graham abruptly declared Saturday he's abandoning talks on climate change legislation because he believes Democratic efforts to bring up a separate immigration reform package is undermining the legislative process.
"Moving forward on immigration - in this hurried, panicked manner - is nothing more than a cynical political ploy," the South Carolina Republican wrote in a sharply-worded letter obtained by CNN. cnn
In the republican weekly address, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels says republicans really do wish Obama well (contrary to what Rush, Newt and the noisiest republicans say).
But this week, attacking the "Pelosi bill," (Henry Waxman introduced the bill) Daniels says the climate change bill is going to cost too much. He says it will double energy bills and cause major job losses.
Then he tries to appeal to ignorant people with the old: excuse me for being a practical Midwesterner who doesn't want to get run over by the liberals from California.
Cap and trade (read cap and trade 101) will cost us but not as much as republicans say. They've grossly exaggerated the costs (get a fact check here) because they still think Americans are mostly ignorant and will have a Pavlovian response whenever they mention taxes.
It will cost us more in the long run if we don't reduce our carbon emissions. Honestly, I don't think republicans have read any of the science because they simply don't believe in man-made climate change and those that do believe in global warming don't think anything can be done about it.
I don't think they've bothered to learn about environmental issues because it's just not their thing. Caring about the environment is NOT a core republican principle.
Read the latest version of the House energy bill here. The fact is we're going to have to have short term hurt for long term gain, something that Americans are still reckoning with.
Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, calls republicans out on their scare tactics. In this case, he's responding to the republicans' new fear mongerer in charge, Dear Newt. Read about the 2007 cap and trade report Waxman talks about here:
Watch Waxman talk about the energy bill with Bloomberg News here.
