U.S. Senate Rejects Climate Security Act
congresswatch | Climate Crisis U.S. Senate Global Warming Legislation
In early June, the U.S. Senate ultimately voted against - the "Climate Security Act", a bill introduced by Senators John Warner (R-VA) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) and brought to the floor in the nature of a subsitute by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Thanks to a Republican filibuster and a veto threat from President Bush, the bill was killed before a meaningful debate could be had on the urgency of action on climate change.
In a statement by the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) president, Gene Karpinski, the League thanked the Senators who fought and voted for the bill, stating that, "By introducing and fighting for this bill, they have put the majority of the Senate on record in support of cap-and-trade legislation and set the stage for significant action next year."
Karpinski also emphasized the impact of this missed opportunity to curb global warming, stating, "With American families struggling under ever increasing gas prices, this missed opportunity to provide real alternatives to America's addiction to foreign oil will come back to haunt the minority of Senators who sided with big oil and dirty coal and refused to break the filibuster."
The Climate Security Act is the first truly comprehensive global warming bill. Sadly, it fell short of the critical votes needed in the Senate to overcome a Republican filibuster. Though only forty-eight senators voted in favor of beginning debate on the bill (sixty votes are needed), six of the sixteen absent senators [incl. Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Joe Biden (D-Del.), and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.)] vowed they would have supported an end to the filibuster.
Still, after the unfortunate vote ten democrats wanted to make it clear to Sen. Boxer and Majority Leader Reid that their vote to begin debate on the Climate Security Act was not an endorsement of the bill's specifics.
Despite the bill's defeat, the reasonably strong show of support proves that the majority of the U.S. Senate is serious about addressing global warming. Congressional Watch is glad to report that Montana's Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester are two of the lawmakers who voted in support of the bill. Rather than put their heads in the sand about this critical issue, Montana's senators are ready to lead the way to tackle the problem.
Though the Climate Security Act did not pass this time, last week's strong vote sets the stage for bold action early in the next Congress in the battle against global warming.
In the meantime, we hope you will join us in thanking Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester for their foresightedness and courage to take on one of the most important issues of our time.
To learn more about the Climate Security Act and the provisions of the bill:
New York Times. June 3, 2008. "Senate Opens Debate on Politically Risky Bill Addressing Global Warming"
Houston Chronicle. June 9, 2008. "The Heat Goes On"
For More Information:
Montanans for a Healthy Climate
