Climate Bill to be Rushed through for Approval
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has recently declared that one can anticipate another fast calendar month of committee action on a far-reaching global warming and energy bill ahead of possible floor debate in late June or early July. He was referring to eight panels with legal power on a bill sanctioned recently by the Energy and Commerce Committee. For most committees, the work will be swift, Hoyer said.
Obama and his staff worked behind the scenes over the last few months with to spur the climate bill out of the committee. The president asked for all 36 of the committee Democrats to the White House earlier this month, advocating them to move promptly on global warming so that they could turn their attention to healthcare reform, another top item on his domestic agenda.
And Phil Schiliro, Obama’s top legislative aide, visited the House markup several times this week to lobby Democrats.
In a statement brought out minutes after the vote, Obama articulated, “We are now one step closer to driving home on the promise of a new clean energy economy that will make America less contingent on foreign oil, crack down on polluters, and create millions of new jobs all across America.”
The president added, “This accomplishment is all the more historic for drawing together many who have in the past opposed a basic attempt, from labor unions to corporate CEOs, and conservationists to energy companies. I applaud the committee for its action and look forward to signing across-the-board legislating.”
Across the aisle, Republicans are for the most part united against the Democratic climate bill.
“As this bill is now out there in the public arena, I think people will understand the over-the-top price that this will impose to business and working families,” House Minority Whip Eric Cantor of Virginia said.
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