Sens. Kerry, Lieberman, Graham Prepare Climate Compromise

Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Joseph I. Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are preparing their compromise climate change bill for introduction on the Senate floor this spring, Hearst Newspapers reported. The bill will face opposition from Republicans, as well as many Democrats from states dependant on the coal industry.

Graham said the planned combination of a cap-and-trade program, offshore energy production, and nuclear and clean coal incentives could win the 60 votes needed to avoid a potential filibuster. He was quoted as saying: "The energy bill will never have 60 votes for the nuclear power provisions that I desire. We'll never have offshore drilling standing alone. They'll never get the (House climate change) bill passed standing alone. Let's combine concepts of controlling pollution and energy independence."