Senators John Kerry (D-Ma), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joseph Liebermann (I-CT) have been working on a sweeping climate change bill for months and are expected to reveal the bill in session on Monday, April 26. The senators have been pulled in twenty different directions by varied lobbyist groups, industry, environmental activists, and fellow colleagues on the Hill. The main concerns being voiced over the bill regard a possible ‘gas tax,’ control over new offshore drilling, and the effect of the bill on recovering American industry.
As a major emitter of carbon dioxide, the cement industry is anxious over what the new legislation will mean for them. Carbon pricing or a cap-and-trade system might well sink an industry that is still struggling to keep its head above water during the economic downturn. To alleviate fears in energy intensive industries, energy adviser to President Obama Carol Browner predicted that “a final bill will be very, very mindful of the needs of these particular sectors of the economy.” Also, if other countries do not enact similar legislation, companies fear that carbon taxes will prohibit them from competing successfully with overseas firms. The cement and steel lobbyists propose a border tax to keep competition fair, but lawmakers reject this idea over the risk of starting a trade war with countries like China and India.
All in all, the trio of senators has been working through various drafts of the bill in what has turned out tougher than expected. According to Reuters.com, arranging the multiple facets needed for a successful bill is like “the skill needed to solve a Rubik’s Cube puzzle — move one set of items the wrong way and the lawmakers you thought you had lined up are out of place — and good luck getting them back.” Despite progress made, hopes are not high for sweeping climate legislation to be passed anytime during 2010.
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