Still Pushing Forward On Climate/Energy Bill
It's practically a rite of passage. No serious legislation ever makes it very far in Congress before it's declared dead - at least once, sometimes two or three times. Here's just a few headlines and statements from pundits from the last couple years about a major reform effort you might remember:
Health Care Bill Dies? (July 2009)
Health care may be 'dead' if Scott Brown wins (January 2010)
The health care bill ... is dead with not the slightest prospect of resurrection. (January 2010)
Health Reform Is Dead. (January 2010)
"I suspect serious health insurance reform is over for yet another generation." (January 2010)
I could go on and on, and the Senator in me tempts me to do exactly that, but this isn't the time for a fillibuster.
No, I raise these examples to make a simple point: Congress defied the cynics and naysayers and passed historic health care reform.
The Senate is more than capable of relegating the recent gloomy headlines about comprehensive climate and energy reform to the place they belong at the Newseum - right next to the 1948 Chicago Tribune headline that declared "Dewey Beats Truman."
Look, passing legislation is never easy - it's supposed to be that way. The bigger the reform, the tougher it gets. And there are always countless places along the way where it looks like it's difficultbecause, well, because it is difficult. Almost all of the snags get worked out without anyone noticing them, but sometimes, they get noticed, and you know what happens.
But here are three things I want everyone to know.
First, Lindsey Graham has invested enormous amounts of time with Joe and myself, bringing people to the table, and doing the hard, grinding work it takes to get a bill this far. It's been a real team effort between the three of us.
Second, there's a larger team effort that's also important. I had a lot of conversations yesterday and today with key folks from an historic and unprecedented coalition that were going to stand up today and support our proposal. Some unlikely partnerships have been built. And the good news is, I heard from all of them this weekend saying to us, "don't give up - keep this moving forward." It's because they're so committed that I know we can get this done this year.
Third, and lastly, the best damn message I heard this weekend came from Tom Friedman on Face the Nation. Tom had written a column for that morning which urged, "if there is going to be a Green Tea Party, it will have to emerge from a different place -- the radical center, a center committed to a radical departure from business as usual. Acting on that impulse, Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joseph Lieberman had forged a bipartisan climate/energy/jobs bill that deserves an energetic centrist Green Tea Party to support it."
And by the time most people picked up that Sunday newspaper, they were reading that our efforts were stuck. but a couple hours later, there was Tom Friedman again on television, reacting to the not so great news - and he summed it up best - and made it clear this isn't a Washington parlor game, this is bigger than the Senate and bigger than politics:
"The result is, Bob, right now in Beijing, they're high-fiving each other. Oh, yeah, baby. This means the Americans are going to be paralyzed on green tech, okay, for another couple of years. China is already leading the world now in wind production. China is already leading the world in solar production."
We need to get back on track for exactly those reasons Tom identified. Because this is about something bigger - it's about our country - and our leadership, America's leadership. So don't get too caught up in the inside-the-Beltway parlor game of declaring reform efforts "dead." We're still pushing, we're still talking, we're still fighting, it's very much alive - and I won't quit until they're high-fiving on Main Street America not Beijing, Tehran, or Caracas.
Yeah, well, that's nice senator. I am not in that green a mood right now seeing what is going on in the Gulf...while our president saying he supports opening up the Atlantic coast to more drilling. I'm am not being inspired right now.
How can there be progress when all the forces, on the political left and right, seem to be against progress. Why aren't we building coast to coast high speed rail systems? We all drive too much and would happily keep the car in the garage if I could, so why aren't we building more light rail systems connecting our major cities to their surrounding suburbs? Wind farms? And all of these efforts would put many Americans, Americans who are desparate to work, back to work.
April 26, 2010 6:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
And thanks to John Kerry and 20 other spineless Democratic Senators who voted for the War Powers Act in 2003, and authorized the invasion of Iraq...
But unlike Obama's turd of a healthcare bill...
The Iraqis won't come back to life.
April 27, 2010 5:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
"why aren't we building more light rail systems connecting our major cities to their surrounding suburbs? "
Uh, the Democrats have made a major leap forward in this area with the High Speed Rail provisions of the stimulus/recovery bill.
So a little credit is in order.
April 27, 2010 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a good letter. I live in Australia and our Prime Minister has just shelved his anti global warming plan because he has no guts. Seems politicians of all shapes and sizes are 'wanting' these days.
April 28, 2010 8:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
While my expectations are that the bill you are going to offer is another bill of half-measures that I can take or leave just like I am expecting every bill out of this administration and this congress to be.
What I heard today from Lieberweenie the Disgusting sounded like Leader Harry Ried stepped on his own toes and screwed things up.
I frankly vote no confidence in this administration or the democrats in congress to deliver anything other than half measures... not because its the best the can do but because it's all they are willing to do. And rather than feel inspired it makes me want to vomit.
April 26, 2010 7:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I am concerned by a recent Reuters article which says:
=======================================
The draft U.S. climate bill expected to be unveiled on Monday contains incentives to help build a dozen nuclear power plants, but delays emissions caps on plants that pollute large amounts of greenhouse gases, an industry source said on Friday.
The draft bill led by Senator John Kerry will contain loan guarantees, protections against regulatory delays...
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/04/climate_bill_calls_for_12_nuclear_plants.php
=======================================
If we're going to build more nuclear plants, then we need stronger regulations, not weaker regulations.
We shouldn't be building more nuclear plants at all. They get radioactive material into the environment even when there isn't an accident.
Our wind and solar capacity should be developed more instead.
But building more nuclear plants after weakening regulations is asking for a major nuclear accident.
April 26, 2010 7:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I hope some enterprising journalistic outfit will shine a light on the shoddy regulation of the nuclear power industry.
Think about Don Blankenship running a nuclear power plant! We're supposed to trust the likes of him?
April 27, 2010 12:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good lord, you're praising Tom Freidman? Here's a hint Senator, those Centrists that Tommy references don't exist. The center as he defines it is the moderate right wing. That is long gone. What he means by green tea party I haven't a clue. The only tea party I know of the the far right wing of the Republican party, if you think they are some kind of center you are as clueless as Freidman.
April 26, 2010 7:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
The difference between climate change/energy bills and finacial reform bills is that the former is actually an EXISTENTIAL THREAT to us (and the world) while the latter can go on forever.
April 26, 2010 7:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Passing the proposed climate legislation will be an enormous accomplishment, not because the measure is more than a baby step, but because failure to pass it would be an enormous leap backward. The cap-and-trade provisions have the virtue of actually placing a quantifiable limit on carbon emissons (although with loopholes), and the fact this would be achieved through tradeoffs that bribe some of the polluters to accept it is a reality that must be accepted as the price for preserving our world against even more monumental costs that will accrue if the U.S. fails to act on climate change. In truth, it is the symbolic value of this legislation more than its practical import that renders it so essential. Until the U.S. signals that as the worst offender historically, it is willing to join international climate mitigation efforts, no other nation will take meaningful steps - one only needs to review the failure of Kytoto promises to be kept to understand why nations that contributed much less to the problem than we have are unwilling to make greater sacrifices than we make to arrive at a solution.
And so we must make a start, realizing it is only that. The Obama Administration, to its credit, is not relying exclusively on congressional action, but has already invested substantially in renewable energy technology and infrastructure, and has put in place administrative leaders (energy advisor Carol Browner, Energy Secretary Steve Chu, and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson) who are committed to moving us toward carbon emissions reduction.
It's the nature of politics that valuable legislation must often involve compromises. Offshore drilling is the most salient recent example, but that is an issue that can be addressed at the level of affected states to minimize the environmental impact. The recent oil rig disaster may indeed facilitate efforts to limit drilling and lessen the harm we face from the tradeoff.
On the other hand, I don't view expanded nuclear power as a detriment. It is far safer than the practical alternative of a continued excessive dependence on coal for electricity generation. The coal industry is a far greater direct threat to health and safety than the nuclear industry, which is in fact rather safe, and the indirect threat from continued burning of coal - the worst CO2 source among the fossil fuels - greatly exacerbates the dangers. Nuclear power by itself will contribute in only a minor way to replacement of fossil fuels, but as we transition away from those fuels, its contribution will be important in minimizing the adverse effects of global warming on humans and other living things.
Thank you, Senator Kerry, for your efforts, and thanks to Senators Lieberman and Graham as well. I wish you success in your efforts.
April 26, 2010 8:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
For my music video commentary on climate change, I invite anyone with 3 minutes and 29 seconds to spare to visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhHTOKdBvRY - apologies to those who already saw my link to this the other day for repeating it here.
April 26, 2010 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Passing this bill will be the most significant environmental legislative victory in the history of our nation. Read and re-read the science to remind yourself the cost of inaction. Some will moan about nuclear and others will moan about offshore drilling. Do not lose sight of what this legislation will do - cap and greatly reduce carbon emissions. Polluters will be forced to pay for their pollution, a pollution that if left unchecked will completely alter the planet which we inhabit.
There is no doubt that the pathway to 60 votes will include provisions hard to swallow. Remember the most important piece of this is the CAP and subsequent reductions. Go Kerry! Lets get Graham back in the game.
April 26, 2010 8:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
The Senate could increase funding for wind & solar in budget reconciliation.
That would only take 50 votes plus Joe Biden's.
It wouldn't involve poisoning the land with nuclear waste and poisoning the ocean with offshore drilling.
April 26, 2010 9:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
hear, hear!
April 28, 2010 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bills bills. That is an scary topic to discuss. But, in your case John it seems not so horrible. scabies rash
February 17, 2011 7:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
What world are you living in Senator Kerry? What part of Republicans have zero interest in negotiating in good faith don't you understand? Senator Graham never had any intention of acting on this legislation and if you or anyone else believed this perhaps it's time to find a new career.
How many times do the Republicans and Joe Lieberman have to pull the football out before this administration gets the message? They have stated that they are the Party of No and I'm pretty sure they mean it. It's all enough to make me want to stay home come election day because voting for Democrats hasn't really made much difference.
Finally, quit reading Tom "6 more months" Friedman. It's not good for your mental state.
April 26, 2010 9:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Official Washington may wake up with amnesia each morning, forgetting the scorched earth tactics from Republicans but out here in fly over land we do not.
Maybe Graham actually wanted to move a climate bill. But then last week we saw the right wing opposition to him raised higher (or maybe go into the gutter) with several attacks questioning his sexuality.
Even if Graham wants to do the right thing I doubt very much he can stand up to his own party. He folded last weekend and will fold again.
April 27, 2010 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Senator Kerry, you are not getting much love here, I personally don't get it.
The over abundance of extremely important issues that we are faced with these days is almost overwhelming. They each must be tackled & seen through to a positive conclusion. Keep your eyes on the prize at the end & listen to our voices. This is why we claim to be Dems , Liberals & lefties, after all.
I too have no reason to trust anyone or anything from the right-wing & wish that important issues didn't hinge on them. Give'm their shot & quickly move on when they blink. Progress is far more important than hollow bi-partisanship.
I read Friedmans' letter in the Times & got the gist, but let's not hang our hopes on a utopian dream that is likely nothing more than another Sunday obligatory space-filler.
The ball is in your court Senator & literally the fate of our nation & planet. So, no pressure, go to work , get it done & then we'll move on to something really tough.
BTW, by all rights we should be calling you,
Mr. President & I deeply wish that we were.
April 27, 2010 12:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
We actually don't need this. Or any other climate bill at all. In fact, now that the Clean Air Act is doing its thing, we can all sit back and let the process work....
Before you hang and quarter me, you can do everything that anyone needs (at least as far as domestic carbon emissions) using the CAA and not need any of this mumbo jumbo noise comming from LIEberman for at least another decade. Existing CAA processes will shave at least 20% from the carbon emissions base in the next decade, if just left alone. Car emissions are dropping by millions of tons. New Source Review will force technologies we don't even know about yet.
EPA must set a GHG National Ambient Air Quality Standard. The state implementation of a NAAQS, while taking the better part of a decade, will push carbon emissions down by A LOT.
It's not the fastest or prettiest process out there, but Congress didn't do too badly in the 1970-1990 period. It worked for ozone. It worked for CFCs. It worked for acid rain (which made global warming worse). It is already working for carbon.
Kill the bill. Kill it now. Not necessary.
April 27, 2010 4:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
The EPA can regulate emissions, but it can't regulate atmospheric levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases because they distribute globally regardless of source. Curtailing tailpipe emissions is useful, but of minor consequence compared with limits on emissions from fixed sources - particularly electric power generating facilities that use coal as a fuel. Although the EPA has the technical authority to impose those limits, any attempt to do so will be immediately tied up in litigation, perhaps for years. The potential for the EPA to act is more valuable as a prod to Congress than as a direct step itself, with EPA action reserved as a fall-back position if Congress fails to act, or as a complement to Congressional action that is clearly inadequate.
In that sense, it would be useful for the EPA to start the process of formulating regulations, recognizing that the best result would be the passage of legislation that makes the process unnecessary, thereby establishing emissions targets much sooner and with greater acceptance by the public. Conversely, a serious attempt by a majority in Congress to pass adequate legislation, if balked by filibuster, would render the EPA alternative more acceptable. Both efforts should be pursued in parallel, therefore, to achieve the best outcome.
April 27, 2010 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Tailpipe emissions are in no way a minor GHG contributor. That's just not so.
See this report:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html
This document:
Energy (PDF) (68 pp, 724K) - Discusses and quantifies energy related emissions of all greenhouse gases resulting from stationary and mobile source activities including fuel combustion and fugitive fuel emissions.
April 27, 2010 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Perhaps we're disagreeing about semantics. Motor vehicle tailpipe emissions (see the pdf file you linked to) account for about 20-25 percent of total U.S. CO2 emissions, a minority worth addressing but less consequential than the fixed sources. My point above, though, was not about the totality of tailpipe emissions, but the practical reduction in GHGs achievable by EPA emission reduction standards, e.g., via increased fuel efficiency and stricter CAFE standards. Compared with what would be achievable by substituting wind, solar, and nuclear energy for coal-fired electricity generation and other industrial fixed-source fossil fuel uses, these stricter standards will have limited impact and would fail to achieve even the modest emissions reductions envisaged in proposed legislation.
We agree that these restrictions are desirable, but we also need to address fixed sources to achieve adequate CO2 curtailment.
April 27, 2010 2:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
This includes wider offshore oil drilling, expanded federal financial support for nuclear power plants, and preemption of EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases under its existing Clean Air Act powers.
You have alot to fix in this bill, Senator.
April 27, 2010 8:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
And I am not at all enthused to see the authority of the EPA to regulate global warming pollution traded away for a package of weak tea.
April 27, 2010 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I appreciate Senator Kerry's efforts here.
But in the end it is just another game of "playing football with Lucy."
As we saw on the health care bill, the finance reform bill and every other major piece of legislation, the Republicans go through the motions of supporting the bill and then pull their support.
In light of all this experience and Senator Graham's actions, he does not deserve the benefit of the doubt. He needs to EARN the benefit of the doubt.
Republicans don't give a rat's ass about policy. All they care about is the politics of winning and dividing the spoils among their supporters.
April 27, 2010 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Tom Freidman just pulled an imaginary group of voters out of his ass. Green Tea Party. Radical centrists? WTF is he talking about. I've heard of people saying they saw little green men but those were supposed to be aliens from another planet. Ok Tom, so where did you see these radical centrists? It's not that we don't believe you, sure sure there's a Green Tea Party. You don't have any sharp objects in the room do ya? Or guns? Now just be calm. You just need some rest Tom. How about six months would that be enough for things to work out?
April 27, 2010 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
WTF is he talking about. I've heard of people saying they saw little green men but those were supposed to be aliens from another planet. Ok Tom, so where did you see these radical centrists? It's not that we don't believe you, sure sure there's a Green Tea Party. You don't have any sharp objects in the room do ya? Or guns? Now just be calm. You just need some rest Tom. How about six months would that be enough for things to work out?
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February 12, 2011 5:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks capable of relegating the recent gloomy headlines about comprehensive climate and energy reform to the place they belong at the Newseum - right next to the 1948 Chicago Tribune headline that declared criminology bachelor
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Uh, the Democrats have made a major leap forward in this area with the High Speed Rail provisions of the stimulus/recovery bill.
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Doubtless that the paths to the 60 votes are included the provisions that hard to swallow. Keep in mind the best valuable rolled of this is the CAP and followed reductions. Navigate Kerry! Lets get Graham backing in the game.
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April 16, 2011 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
e 60 votes are included the provisions that hard to swallow. Keep in mind the best valuable rolled of this is the CAP and followed reductions. Navigate Kerry! Lets get Graham backing in the game.
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I screws in Australia and our first Minister has shelving its plan of combat against climate warming since it has no bravery. Appears politicians in all shapes and sized are "willing " those days.
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