Friday, June 26, 2009

Waxman-Merkley Climate Bill

Update: The US House of Representatives passed by a narrow vote (219-212) the first greenhouse gas reduction bill ever considered in Congress. The measure was criticised by the right as being "bad for business" and the left for not doing enough, soon enough to make a critical difference to the Earth's potentially disasterous warming trend. Co-sponsor of the bill Ed Markey (D-MA) said it is "the most important energy and environmental legislation in the history of the country". One of the biggest compromises in passing the legislation was the 85% elimination of the plan to sell pollution permits to energy companies. They will be given away instead. Only eight Repugnants voted in favor. The measure goes on to the Senate for their consideration, where it faces stiff resistance from members of both parties.

{6/24/09}Al Gore told 11,000 green activists last night in a teleconference that the Waxman-Merkley climate bill, which was voted favorably out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee (33-25), will be scheduled for a floor vote on Friday. Energy business interests lobbied heavily against the legislation, and the effort featured a chart full of cost misinformation created by none other than the CEO of Peabody Coal Company the former Vice President said. The non-partisan CBO estimates that the per household cost of controlling greenhouse gases will be about the same as one postage stamp a day. ($175 a year by 2020) V.P. Gore asked specifically that Americans who understand the necessity of controlling CO2 if the planet is to have a survivable future, call their elected Representatives and ask them to vote for the legislation when it reaches the floor. If you read this blog and are a citizen of the United States, that means you! House switchboard: (202) 224-3121

You can also tell Congress that you want a public option to insure competition for affordable health care by signing a petition circulated by Senators Dick Durban, Charles Schumer and Patrick Leahy.