Congressional Watch, April 2009 Edition
Congressional Watch is a monthly e-newsletter of Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, letting you know about the votes and actions of Montana's Congressional Delegation - Senator Max Baucus, Senator Jon Tester, and Congressman Denny Rehberg - affecting energy issues.
HOW THEY VOTED
Legislation implementing climate change budget provisions will require 60 Senate votes
Both Montana's U. S. Senators voted in favor of a measure insisting that any climate change legislation involving a cap and trade system for carbon emissions would require at least 60 votes. Montana's Democrat senators joined 24 other Democrats and all Senate Republicans in voting for the prohibition against the use of reconciliation - a budgetary procedure that reconciles policy with fiscal guidelines, and which allows a simple majority vote. The measure passed 67 to 31.
Budget resolutions pass without any Republican votes
The Senate passed the FY2010 budget resolution by a vote of 55 to 43. Sen. Baucus and Sen. Tester both voted in support of the resolution. Two other Senate Democrats joined all Republicans in opposing the measure. The House passed a separate resolution by a vote of 233 to 196, with Rep. Rehberg joining all other Republicans and 20 Democrats in opposition. The two budget resolutions, which set the stage for energy, education and health care changes promoted by President Obama in his FY 2010 budget, will have to be reconciled after Congress returns from its two week recess in April. See New York Times article about the Senate and House budget approvals (April 2, 2009).
Public Lands Bill Opposed by Rehberg
The bipartisan Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 is important to Montana. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the Senate 77-20, designated additional Wilderness lands in several states (not Montana) and authorized other public lands programs. It included a provision introduced by Sen. Tester and co-sponsored by Sen. Baucus called the Cooperative Watershed Management Act to provide grants to grassroots groups who agree to work together to manage Montana's water resources. The federal funds would supplement other private money. Sen. Baucus and Sen. Tester supported the bill.
The bill passed the House by a two-to-one vote (285-140) - but Montana's Rep. Dennis Rehberg voted ‘no,' saying his vote was because the bill did not protect Second Amendment rights by allowing citizens to take guns into national parks and wildlife refuges.
ACTIONS AND OPINIONS
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Tester and Baucus Release: Senators push funding for energy transmission line April 1, 2009
(Washington D.C.) - Montana Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester today asked the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) to help finance the Montana-Alberta Transmission Line (MATL)....
Tester and Baucus Press Release: Senators: Montana communities to receive $15.5 million to create jobs March 26, 2009.
WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Communities and tribes across Montana will receive another $15.5 million to create jobs through various energy efficiency and conservation projects, U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester announced today...
Tester Press Release: Tester backs legislation to jumpstart biofuel production in National Forests, March 20, 2009
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Senator Jon Tester is backing bipartisan legislation that will strengthen renewable energy opportunities in Montana by allowing biomass material from National Forests to be counted toward the Renewable Fuel Standard...
Sen. Tester Appointed to Five Appropriations Subcommittees
Sen Tester, appointed to the Appropriations Committee in January, has been assigned to five subcommittees:
Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee
Homeland Security Subcommittee
Interior, Environment Subcommittee
Legislative Branch Subcommittee
‘Discussion Draft' of Energy Legislation Released in U.S. House
Chairmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) of the Energy and Commerce Committee and Edward Markey (D-MA) of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee released a ‘discussion draft' of clean energy legislation they describe as a "comprehensive approach to America's energy policy that charts a new course towards a clean energy future." The Energy and Commerce Committee is expected to complete consideration of the legislation, dubbed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, by Memorial Day, with subcommittee hearings scheduled for the week of April 20, subcommittee markup the following week and full committee action starting the week of May 11. Here are links to the summary and full text of the bill.
The legislation, released March 31, has four titles addressing renewables, carbon capture and sequestration, clean fuels and smart grids; energy efficiencies; carbon emissions limits and offsets; and business energy rebates, green jobs and consumer assistance. Much in the bill is open to negotiations.
The bill proposes a slightly more aggressive timeline for cutting greenhouse gases than that announced by President Obama in his budget bill. The League of Conservation Voters referred to the discussion draft as a critical step toward passing a comprehensive clean energy bill in 2009, saying it looked forward to working with Chairmen Waxman and Markey and leaders from both chambers of Congress and the President to enact a strong, science-based bill into law. Other national conservation organizations, including Sierra Club, NRDC, World Wildlife Fund, and The Wilderness Society, applauded the discussion draft, calling it a strong start, a major first step and a ‘new vision for America's clean energy future.' Greenpeace referred to the bill as a good first step and called for it to be strengthened, noting the bill's shortcomings in the areas of pollution offsets, coal industry handouts, and uncertain use of auction revenues.
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Congress Engaging in Negotiations on Clean Energy Provisions in Obama Budget
The Hill: Budget battle moves to House, Senate floors March 30, 2009
"Democrats in both the House and the Senate this week hope to win passage for budget resolutions that will serve as the first step in enacting the ambitious agenda of President Obama... The resolution that emerges from the two chambers and a conference will serve as the legislative outline for the rest of the year. A successful budget resolution is important because it helps guide how lawmakers address the president's and congressional leaders' top goals of healthcare reform, energy independence, education and deficit reduction, said Jim Horney, a former Senate Democratic budget aide. Though the plans moving through Congress call for slightly less spending than the plan first put forth by the White House last month, all of the Democrats' proposals are similar...The budget plans propose another reserve fund for the development of new energy sources and other programs to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil and to stem global warming..."
National Groups Call for Support for Clean Energy in the Budget Bill
Fifteen national groups, including LCV, Climate Solutions, National Audubon Society, NRDC, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Sierra Club and The Wilderness Society, sent a letter to Senators on March 31 urge them to pass the Senate Budget Resolution and oppose amendments that undermine the urgent need to invest in a clean energy future, grow green jobs, and address global warming. More amendments - and more sign-on letters about the amendments - are likely.
Montana Clean Energy Budget Priorities
Community leaders from across Montana outlined the local impact of President Obama's proposed 2010 budget in a press teleconference March 24, urging Rep. Dennis Rehberg to support a plan that will renew and reinvest in America by reforming health care, energy, and education. Kevin Depuy, owner of Depuy Building, a small Missoula-based construction firm specializing in retro-fitting for energy efficiency and a member of the Sustainable Business Council of Montana, supported the provisions in the budget that would provide for clean energy investments.
Sen. Baucus' Committee Assigned Two Energy-related Bills
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on which Sen. Baucus sits, has been assigned two energy-related bills. No hearing dates have been set.
- S. 724, introduced by Sen. John Barasso (R-WY), to amend the Endangered Species Act to temporarily prohibit the Secretary of the Interior from considering global climate change as a natural or manmade factor in determining whether a species is a threatened or endangered.
- S. 575, introduced by Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), to require States and metropolitan planning organizations to develop plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
National Wildlife Federation: 5 Facts on Big Oil's Campaign Against a Clean Energy Recovery
The National Wildlife Federation is countering the attack by Big Oil on President Obama's request for Congress to deliver comprehensive energy legislation that invests in clean energy, creates millions of green jobs, cuts dependence on dirty fossil fuels, and holds energy companies accountable for reducing global warming pollution. Here are five things you should know about Big Oil's campaign, according to NWF.
PUBLIC OPINION
Center for American Progress: Public Opinion Snapshot: Strong Support for Clean Energy Economy March 30, 2009
One of the Obama administration's key objectives is making the transition to a clean energy economy, a priority that is amply reflected in the budget currently being debated in Congress. As with the administration's other priorities, this one enjoys very strong public support. In the just-released Progressive Studies Program survey on the State of American Political Ideology, 76 percent of respondents agreed that "America's economic future requires a transformation away from oil, gas, and coal to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar," compared to 11 percent who disagreed (12 percent were neutral). This was the highest level of agreement recorded among the ten progressive and conservative economic statements tested by the survey. More...
TAKE ACTION
Congress will be in recess from April 6-17, and Montana's elected Congressional delegation will be meeting with Montanans across the state. This is a great opportunity to call on our delegation to support the clean energy provisions proposed in the President's 2010 budget and the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act (see above). Ask them to support:
- Significant investments in clean energy technologies and energy efficiencies
- A strong market-based cap on carbon emissions - make polluters pay, and reduce
How to Contact Montana's Congressional Delegation:
If you would like to contact Montana's delegation or learn more about their energy plans, visit their web sites:
- Senator Max Baucus at http://www.baucus.senate.gov
- Senator Jon Tester at http://www.tester.senate.gov
- Representative Dennis Rehberg at http://www.rehberg.house.gov
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