Politicking Said to Underlie Action on Climate Change in 2010

The Houston Chronicle examined where the logjam may be in Congress over a new energy bill, focusing on how election-year politics may affect the movement of a climate change measure. The Chronicle suggested that the plan was "hindered by moderate Democrats' wariness about the centerpiece of the leading proposals: so-called cap-and-trade programs that would allow refiners, manufacturers and other carbon dioxide emitters to comply with steadily tightening greenhouse gas limits by cutting their emissions or buying and trading allowances to release the substance."

A plan outlined by Sens. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., Joseph I. Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is central to the proposals. Clean Air Watch President Frank O'Donnell was quoted by the newspaper as saying these senators have "made the calculation that they're going to have to go to the lowest common denominator to get something through. One real concern here is the lowest common denominator could be mighty darn low."

Among other challenges tackled by the Chronicle: 1) "Soothing the concerns of Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Byron Dorgan, R-N.D., and others about the risk that traders will manipulate any new carbon permit market; 2) Winning over coal-state senators who are concerned that greenhouse gas limits will encourage companies to forgo the fossil fuel in favor of cleaner-burning options; 3) Calming farm-state senators whose constituents are concerned about the prospect of higher fuel and feed costs; and 4) Assuaging Rust Belt senators who are worried that any U.S. caps on carbon dioxide -- without similar constraints in other countries -- would put the steel industry, paper makers and other manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage in the global marketplace."

- Also see related article in the Houston Chronicle.