Democrats Press Jobs Issue in Advocating for Climate Change Bill

Democrats and environmentalists were citing support from Exelon and other utilities as they touted the ability of the climate change bill to create jobs and boost the economy, Environment & Energy Daily reported. The strategy for making the case to approve the bill represented a shift from the earlier emphasis on the dangers posed by climate change.

Lawrence Rothenberg of the University of Rochester said that with public opinion having proved unresponsive to climate change concerns, "the debate is waged largely on economic grounds because in some sense that is what voters care about." Senate Environment & Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., cited letters of support from businesses in early bill debates, and primarily called on industry representatives for testimony in hearings on the bill. Boxer and other senators also emphasized a recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce letter promising the group will work with legislators on climate issues.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was quoted as saying: "Whether or not a specific company is for or against the bill, or belongs to the chamber or resigns from the chamber, I don't think that will have an impact. It does not affect my approach one way or the other."