Senate Environment Committee Passes Kerry-Boxer Climate Bill

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Thursday passed the Kerry-Boxer climate bill by a vote of 10-1, which included no Republican votes, The Washington Post reported.

Sen. Max Baucus, D., Mont., was the only Democrat to vote against the bill, "a sign that the climate measure is likely to face major revisions as it works its way through five other committees before reaching the U.S. Senate floor," Dow Jones Newswires reported.

According to the newswire: "Democrats acted without the participation of Republicans, who stayed away to protest a lack of a complete analysis of the measure. Under the bill, companies would have to hold permits for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. The limited number of permits would set a cap on greenhouse-gas emissions, with a goal of reducing emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and by more than 80% by 2050."

Despite his vote, Baucus was still committed to work for a "meaningful, balanced" climate bill passed by the Senate, the Washington Times reported.

- Related story also appeared in Politico.