Jason Kowalski, a policy expert with climate advocacy group 1Sky, has an excellent and handy update on the climate bill "situation report" from DC. Here's the skinny on upcoming Senate committee timelines, political posturing from critical moderates, and how the health care debate is impacting the climate scene:
1. Timeline
Environment and Public Works (EPW) Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) has promised the release of her committee's discussion draft on September 8, the first day back from recess. By releasing a discussion draft after recess, EPW has the potential to positively influence other committee processes as titles get marked up before the September 28th deadline. The current schedule:
- 8/8 - 9/7: Senate August recess;
- 9/8: EPW discussion draft to be released;
- 9/8 - 9/25: Committee mark-ups held;
- 9/28: Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-NV) mark-up deadline for all Senate Committees with climate jurisdiction.
Thanks to Jason and 1Sky's Rhiya Trivedi for the update. Check out the 1Sky "Skywriter" blog for frequent updates.2. EPW and Finance Committees
Aides from the EPW Committee have said that their draft of the bill will not include "detailed language" on allocations, as they may wait until the markup process before they tackle the allowance scheme (like Energy and Commerce Chairman Waxman (D-CA) did in the House).
Chairwoman Boxer is being pushed by climate champions like Sens. Sanders (I-VT), Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Whitehouse (D-RI) to strengthen short-term emissions reduction targets "beyond 17% by 2020" (in anticipation of attempts at weakening on the floor), while Sens. Carper (D-DE), Baucus (D-MT), and Specter (D-PA) want a more moderate bill from EPW. Carper has specifically said he wants a more "centrist" EPW draft.
Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) has been clear that his committee will mark-up the international trade and allocations provisions of the climate bill.
3. Posturing amongst the Moderates
Senators have begun posturing in anticipation of what will take place in September. Here's a brief rundown of some public comments we've seen since ACES passed in the House:
- Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) called ACES a "complete non-starter" this week.
- Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) ran an op-ed on his concerns about ACES that (unbeknown to him) were actually addressed in the bill. Read responses from Joe Romm and Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman.
- Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) supports a "very gradual implementation" of a climate plan. Also, see her negative Twitter posts on ACES.
- Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL), who recently announced a 2010 retirement, said he opposes climate action, but also opposes offshore drilling.
- Sen. Sherrod Brown(D-OH) said recently that he won't filibuster a climate bill; however, it's not uncommon for a senator to vote for cloture and then against the bill.
- Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) says that he cannot support the bill without greater recognition of CCS as a "green" resource.
- Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) says he will filibuster a climate bill if it doesn’t preserve a wide offshore drilling buffer.
- Grist has created profiles of other key climate swings.
4. How Will Healthcare Delays Affect Climate?
Though healthcare floor action has been pushed until after the August recess, climate champions are insisting they will hold a vote this year. EPW Chairwoman Boxer and Agriculture Chairman Harkin (D-IA) have promised to stay on track with their committee pieces of the bill, and Foreign Relations Chairman Kerry (D-MA) is denying that the healthcare calendar will have any effect on climate (E&E). The White House is maintaining that both agenda items are the "valued children" of the Administration, and they will continue to press Congress to pass both this year.
Read more on:
- Problems both bills have encountered.
- The role the CBO could play in helping climate, and hurting healthcare.
- Why both agenda items need to be pushed this year.
- Healthcare vs. Climate.
Bottom line: Wins beget wins. A win on healthcare helps raise the political capital necessary to pass a strong climate bill before Copenhagen.
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