SENATE STEPS UP TO CAP-AND-TRADE

Senator Boxer hailed the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007 she led her committee through approval of as a signal to the 10,000+ delegates from 190+ countries at the Bali summit considering world action after 2012 that the US is finally ready to take its responsibility to them seriously.

Sen. Inhofe, the Senate’s champion climate change denier, responded with assertions of the bill’s potential economic harm. Sen. Boxer and the bill’s sponsors contend it offers economic opportunities.

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Is climate change is a contentious political issue? Here, from C-SPAN and Ryan Grim’s Politico account, is a sample of the dialogue during the all-day Senate committee hearing on the subject.

Sen. Boxer: “I would never vote to hang our future, or our children’s future, on China…”
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.): “Sen. Boxer, I hate to break the news to you, but…our future is tied to China…”
Sen. Boxer: “Sen. Vitter, I’d like to break some news to you. We’re not going to let China lead…”

Later, Sen. Boxer told Sen. Craig one of his nuclear energy proposals belonged in the energy committee.
Sen. Craig: “Let the record show that the climate change bill has nothing to do with energy…”
Sen. Boxer: “I didn’t say that…”
Sen. Voinovich: “I understand you’re saying this isn’t an energy bill…”
Sen. Boxer: “No, I’m not saying that…”

Later still, Boxer referred to Republican amendments that would set prices for electricity, gasoline or natural gas as “socialist” and “command and control” and then turned to Sen. Bernie Sanders, a self-identified socialist: “Sorry, Bernie.”

After the bill was passed, sending it to the full Senate for consideration, there was a final exchange.
Sen. Inhofe: “Madame Chairman, let me tell you that I’ve had a wonderful time, but this wasn’t it.”
Sen. Boxer: “This is a moment I will never forget…”

Senate Panel Passes Bill to Limit Greenhouse Gases
John M. Broder, December 6, 2007 (NY Times)
and
Barbara Boxer gives warning on warming
Ryan Grim, December 5, 2007 (Politico)

WHO
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (19 members), Sen, Joe Lieberman, (I/D-CT) and Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), climate change bill co-sponsors, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio), Sen. Bernie Sanders (I/D/Socialist-VER)

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WHAT
Senator Boxer led her committee through a day-long, 9 ½ hour marathon “mark-up” session on the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2007 that would create a cap-and-trade system to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions. At the end of the session, the committee approved the bill, sending it to the full Senate for consideration.

WHEN
- The bill would cut US emissions 70% from 2005 levels by 2050.
- The bill is not expected to be considered by the full Senate until early in 2008. Lieberman says he thinks he has the votes to pass the bill.

WHERE
- The bill is expected to face significant challenges in the Senate. If it is approved, it is expected to face opposition in the House.
- Sen. Craig would support it but only with an amendment sunsetting the bill if China and India do not also cap emissions.

WHY
- The bill caps emissions and allows permits for trading. Initially, the permits would be given. Farther into the process, they would be auctioned to buoy their value.
- The system is similar to one that effectively controlled sulphur emissions and acid rain in the 1990s.
- The committee approved the bill by an 11 to 8 vote, winning approval from the Democrats, Independent Democrat Lieberman and Republican bill sponsor Warner.
- There were 180+ amendments awaiting consideration as Boxer opened the session.
- Sen. Vitter’s attempt to consider offshore drilling in the legislation was turned back as not relevant to this legislation.
- Sen. Craig’s attempt to consider nuclear energy in the legislation was turned back as not relevant to this legislation.
- Sen. Bond’s attempt to consider benefits for low-income Americans hit by rising energy costs in the legislation was turned back as not relevant to this legislation.
- Environmentalists are enthusiastic about US consideration of the emissions reduction strategy. Opponents fear the economic harm emissions reductions strategies may do.

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QUOTES
- Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.): “It looks like people have been in this room for weeks…”
- Lexi Shultz, Union of Concerned Scientists: “This bill is a strong framework to address the most serious challenge of our time…But if it’s really going to do the job it needs to get stronger. If we are to have a fighting chance to avoid the worst effects of climate change, the United States has to cut emissions by 80 percent from current levels by the middle of the century.”
- Sen. Boxer: “This vote is a historic moment for my country…It is a signal that America is finally taking bold steps to avert a catastrophe for our children and grandchildren.”