John Kerry
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Federal climate policy should preempt state and regional initiatives
In just a few days, Sens. John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, and Joe Lieberman will release their much-anticipated proposal for comprehensive climate and energy legislation — the best remaining shot at forging a bipartisan consensus on this issue in 2010. Their proposal has many strengths, but there’s an issue brewing that could undermine its effectiveness and […]
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There are reasons to be pessimistic about climate legislation
Maggie Fox of Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection has an opinion piece in Politico in which she repeatedly laments the pessimism many have expressed that the Senate will finally take action on climate change legislation this year: Even before the Senate starts debating clean energy and climate legislation, the professional pessimists are saying it […]
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The Best Way to Celebrate Earth Day
It’s that time of year again. Earth Day. The 2010 edition marks the 40th anniversary. If Congress wants to score some environmental and economic “green” for the planet, it should declare its intention to let the states address climate change. More than half the states have climate action plans to reduce carbon that would put […]
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Senate bipartisan climate and clean energy jobs bill set for launch April 26
Looks like a Senate climate bill will not be unveiled the week of Earth Day after all. The new goal for Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., and Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I/D-Conn., to publicly release a potential deal is April 26, sources said. National Journal has the story: Graham explained why the bill would […]
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Kerry-vs.-Bingaman power struggle lurks beneath ‘what next?’ question in Senate
Sens. Kerry, Lieberman, and GrahamPhoto: Wonk RoomIn the wake of health care reform passage, the question du jour seems to be: what next? The Senate doesn’t have a ton of time before mid-term elections bring Silly Season (not that any season is free of silliness in the Senate). A number of issues are tapping on […]
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Outline of Kerry-Graham-Lieberman appears to hew to Obama’s clean energy principles
Cross-posted from the Wonk Room. Photo: Wonk RoomDetails of the comprehensive green economy legislation being negotiated by a bipartisan trio of senators are leaking out, as draft language nears completion. In a meeting yesterday with a coalition of industry lobbyists, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) unveiled an […]
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Forests and agriculture essential to success of climate legislation
Within the next few days, Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, and Joe Lieberman are going to unveil energy and climate legislation. If this legislation is to have any chance at either environmental, economic, or political success, they must avoid the "energy-only" approach that would entirely exclude forests and farms from participation in a solution -- but that has recently gained some traction.
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Is Senator Graham looking for an excuse to bail on climate legislation?
Kate Sheppard asks if the passage of health care legislation will hurt or hinder progress on climate legislation. But the underlying question is whether or not Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is looking for an excuse to bail on climate negotiations. The answer to that question might just be yes. His rhetoric hints at the possibility, […]
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Senators negotiate green economy bill with polluters who deny threat of global warming
Cross-posted from the Wonk Room. As the Kerry-Graham-Lieberman triumvirate works to craft green economy legislation, they’re negotiating with industry lobbyists who deny the threat of global warming. After meeting with President Barack Obama and a dozen industry-friendly lawmakers, the trio of Senate negotiators sat down with representatives of the fossil-based economy: A cross section of […]