Senate Rejects Sen. Murkowski Resolution by 47-53 Margin

The Senate resolution to block EPA from developing GHG emissions limits failed by a 47-53 Senate vote, the New York Times reported. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, had support from all 41 Republicans, as well as six Democrats.

Sens. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., and Joseph I. Lieberman, ID-Conn., stated that "the Senate made the right decision today but the big question" was will senators act on climate change. They expressed hopes that senators who said Congress and not the EPA should address climate change "will now engage with us." The six Democrats who crossed over were Evan Bayh of Indiana, Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Pryor and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

Bloomberg reported that Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said the vote indicated the Senate will take up a bill "much different" from the House cap-and-trade bill with a focus on "energy and clean-energy jobs." Kevin Book, an energy analyst at ClearView Energy Partners, said the vote indicated the potential for Republicans and Democrats from coal states to advance a "pro-drilling, pro-safety compromise" energy bill that included "even greater provisions on behalf of their constituents."

President Obama stated: "Today's vote is yet another reminder of the urgent need to pass legislation that would help America transition to a 21st century clean energy economy that would create jobs, strengthen our national security, and protect our environment for our children."