Speaking of this argument Jason raised — what exactly Dems should do on global warming in the next two years — one point strikes me as central: whatever Congress does, it should not impede or supercede the many great efforts taking place at the state and local level. That’s the baseline for acceptable legislation, in my book.
Boxer’s Environment Committee held a hearing yesterday, where some state legislators made exactly that point:
“Whatever you do, please don’t do anything to pre-empt the strides that are being made in New Jersey, Washington, California and elsewhere,” [California Senate President Pro Tem Don] Perata told the senators. Perata and [New Jersey Gov. and former Sen. John ] Corzine said they were worried that their states may well have plans that go beyond what Congress is willing to enact and they don’t want to have to rollback their efforts.
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels made exactly the same point about city-level efforts.
