After health, Obama allies zero in on climate
Environmentalists hope Obama will seize on new political momentum to push forward climate legislation, though some observers question whether he would seek another divisive vote as November congressional elections approach.
via Breitbart
fter a hard-fought victory on health care reform, President Barack Obama’s allies in Congress are setting their sights on climate change — but some on both sides are already crying foul.
Environmentalists hope Obama will seize on new political momentum to push forward climate legislation, though some observers question whether he would seek another divisive vote as November congressional elections approach.
Senator John Kerry, who has spearheaded climate legislation, said that White House officials can now “pour their energy and attention” into the issue after Sunday’s down-to-the-wire vote on expanding health care coverage.
“In the wake of health care’s passage, we have a strong case to make that this can be the next breakthrough legislative fight,” the Massachusetts Democrat argued.
“Climate legislation is the single best opportunity we have to create jobs, reduce pollution and stop sending billions overseas for foreign oil from countries that would do us harm,” Kerry said.
“If we sell those arguments we’ve got a winning issue on jobs, on security and on public health. This can happen.”
The House of Representatives in June approved a bill that would start the country’s first nationwide “cap-and-trade” system that restricts carbon emissions blamed for global warming and allows trading in credits.
The Senate has yet to offer companion legislation, despite pressure on the United States to finalize an action plan before December’s climate summit in Copenhagen.
Unlike health care, which split on sharply partisan lines, Kerry voiced confidence in winning Republican support. He is working on climate legislation with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a vociferous foe of Obama’s health care plan.
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