To get this thing through today, Lieberman can’t afford to lose the support of more than one Democrat. At the end of the subcommittee process, after watching almost all of his amendments killed, Bernie Sanders voted against the bill. His no vote was offset, though, by an affirmative vote by Sen. John Warner (R-Va.).
Today, that may change. During his opening statements, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who has a strong environmental record, gushed over ACSA, and Sanders himself called the legislation a “major step forward.”
“I want to thank Senators Boxer, Lieberman, and Warner for revising the bill,” Sanders said, for changing the language in the bill to make sure that $300 billion in auction revenue is dedicated to sustainable energy.
Sanders has brought more amendments with him today, and I can’t say for sure that I know how he’ll vote. But he is a bellwether. And if his opening statement is any indication, Lieberman-Warner has a really good shot of making it to the Senate floor.
