Posted on 10/11/2009 12:08:25 PM PDT by American Dream 246
Sen. Lindsey Graham working with Sen. John Kerry on climate bill
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina publicly announced his support for climate legislation on Sunday in an op-ed column with Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts.
"Our partnership represents a fresh attempt to find consensus that adheres to our core principles and leads to both a climate change solution and energy independence," the two senators wrote in The New York Times. "It begins now, not months from now — with a road to 60 votes in the Senate."
Graham's support is a major win for climate supporters, who are seeking Republican support for climate legislation. A climate bill passed the House in last June, but prospects for the legislation have dimmed amid the contentious health care debate.
The Democratic Caucus is split over the climate bill, with Rust Belt senators fearing that the legislation could hurt industry and consumers in their region. The divide among Democrats means supporters will most likely need Republican votes to overcome a Senate filibuster.
The two senators are proposing a bill that includes "aggressive" reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, additional oil and gas exploration and funding for nuclear power and advanced coal technologies known as carbon capture and sequestration. They'd also like legislation to include a border tax to protect domestic manufacturing from foreign competition and a price restrictions on the cost of carbon allowances created by a new cap and trade system.
"The message to those who have stalled for years is clear: killing a Senate bill is not success," they wrote. "Industry needs the certainty that comes with congressional action."
Kerry, the lead sponsor of legislation that would cap greenhouse gas emissions, has been working closing with Graham, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and other Republicans to draft provisions that would increase funding for nuclear power and expand domestic oil and gas development. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) has called for the U.S. to build 100 new nuclear plants by 2030.
Still, the vast majority of Senate Republicans oppose the legislation, with their most vehement criticisms reserved for the cap-and-trade system included in the House bill passed last summer. Democrats consider cap and trade to be the centerpiece of the legislation because it would put a firm limit on greenhouse gas emissions.
The bill released by Kerry and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) earlier this month includes a section that would incentivize worker training at nuclear plants and new research into expanding the licensing periods for reactors.
Such proposals could be opposed by more liberal Democrats and environmentalist concerns about the ecological impacts of the fuels and storage of nuclear waste. Last week, Graham told reporters that he has encouraged the administration to create working groups for senators to address nuclear power issues.
In 2005, Lieberman tried to attract support for a climate bill he sponsored with McCain by including provisions that would have helped the nuclear power industry. The bill failed 38-60, after Boxer and several other Senate Democrats voted against it because they felt the legislation included too many giveaways to the nuclear power industry.
Lindsay Graham, Lindsay Lohan, what’s the difference?
Lohan likes girls.
Graham needs to be tossed out of the GOP. ASAP! If he wants to support the Marxist DemocRATS, he should belong to THEIR party.
They’ve compromising pictures of Lindsey Limpwrist. That’s the most obvious explanation.
Is Pansey the first gay Latino Senator?
Lindsey voted “present” for defunding ACORN. Why? Did he take donations from ACORN?
And the GOP wonders why the’re still having issues. They can’t even clean thier own house properly. Mccain, Graham, Snowe all have to go! Wake up GOP, The rats loosing control and doing miserably does not mean you can sit on your a##es and expect to be a shoo in in 2010 and 2012. Most are sick of you all! Right now most of us out here, you know the ones who are making to much noise in the background, the ones who are telling you what we want you to do, you know, the ones who are not being paid any mind, the ones who are as mad as hell and will mke sure we are heard LOUD AND CLEAR, AH..... YEAH THOSE GUYS. Don’t be surprised when niether one of you are chosen.
It’s time to impeach the bastard!
How could the same state that sent Jim Demint to the Senate have also sent (and reelected in 2008) this backstabbing, Juan McCain wannabe?
Lindsay Graham is missing his top ninety floors!!
you hit the nail on the head...something VERY strange about this guy’s position on too many things of late
Seems like he’s being blackmailed. His legislative choices are astonishing for a supposed GOP senator. Is he just desparately trying to pander to the gay liberal South Carolina vote? Or does he have a mental disorder?
“something VERY strange about this guy’s position on too many things of late”
I would speculate that someone may have him by the testicles, but I don’t think that would be anatomically correct in his case.
>>> something VERY strange about this guy’s position on too many things of late <<<
Yea , the strong arm has him, he wouldn’t want to be the 2nd Gov Sanford , so he has to play ball..
I wish DeMint would publicly slam him.
He fits the exact congressman that needs to be voted out of the Republican party. There is no way you should be appeasing the left and trying to act like they worthy of compromise. The agenda is far left agenda. So Graham needs to get a check up from the neck up and be impeached since he going down this road.
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