The climate bill dies and Democrats prove once again why they are always called huge wusses.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that it was impossible to achieve the required 60 votes needed to pass the bill through the Senate. Republicans have vehemently opposed the proposed legislation for its cap-and-trade regulations, which would charge power plants and other major polluters a carbon tax based on their emissions.
Environmentalists have applauded Democrats’ diligence in sticking with the carbon tax measures, assessing their vital importance to curbing climate change and the human contribution of greenhouse gasses.
Republicans, however, have countered that the taxes would trickle their way down to the consumers in higher costs for energy and fuel. They have also contended that the cap-and-trade policy would kill jobs, forcing companies overseas where they wouldn’t have to pay such a high premium to produce their goods.
Likely, the real culprit here is the Republicans’ strong ties with the big energy companies and major polluters who would be hurt most by the bill.
Democrats will now push for a much narrower bill that will focus on holding BP responsible for the Gulf oil spill, improving energy efficiency, and increasing conservation funds. More details will be known when Reid introduces the bill next week.
In the meantime, temperatures continue to rise and the coming climate crisis approaches, while Republicans continue to significantly falter any progress President Obama and the Democrats intends to implement.
September 01, 2010 at 11:01 am, The Fox And The Hen: UN Climate Panel Receives Blatant Advice As Conflicted Interests Regulate Our Future | Death and Taxes said:
[...] The worst part is that when an unprecedented toxic mass of oil floods our planet, or entire peoples are displaced from environmental catastrophes, instead of addressing the root of the problems directly, we have to waste precious time dealing with investigations into the merits and morality of our officials assigned to deal with such enormous responsibilities. [...]