Senate Climate Change Bill to be Unveiled April 26

Legislators are scrambling to unveil a new U.S. Senate climate change bill, reportedly in time for Earth Day on April 26.

The bill is jointly sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) Lindsey Graham, (R-South Carolina) and Joseph I. Lieberman, (Independent-Connecticut).

The bill will try to achieve about a 17 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2020, the same target as legislation passed by the House last year, the New York Times reported.

The comprehensive legislation would cap some greenhouse gas emissions, boost domestic oil and natural gas production, and spur new nuclear power — all while still attracting the support of at least 60 senators who would be needed to pass the measure.

There is limited time for haggling.

Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pennsylvania, told the Houston Chronicle that the bill’s supporters have don’t have much time before the talks about the bill are crowded out by other issues confronting the Senate, including including financial regulatory reform and the confirmation of a new U.S. Supreme Court member to replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.

“I still think there’s a way to address it,” Casey said. “But time is running out, and any action probably needs to come before mid-July. “When you are getting into July, it’s getting very difficult in any year — but especially an election year.”

When the historic health care reform bill was passed, discussion from various publications immediately ensued about if the passage would clear the way for climate change legislation.

Some believe that the environment created by the health care reform bill boosted the chance for a climate change bill; others believe there are still more pressing issues for the Senate to be concerned about.

A Chicago native, Bridgette has been a journalist since she first wrote for her seventh grade newsletter. Today, that passion is just as strong. She has written for several newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, the Houston Defender, the Marshall News-Messenger (Texas) and the Springfield News-Sun (Ohio).

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