The Senate has begun debate on S. 3036, the Climate Security Act (the Lieberman-Warner Bill in the vernacular). While there looks to be more than enough votes in the Senate to move to a debate, it is anyone’s guess whether there are the 60 votes needed to cut off debate and move to a final vote- that will largely be determined by the type and amount of amendments that are accepted, rejected, or permitted to be debated. Getting the 60 votes necessary to cut off debate became one vote harder this week with the absence of Sen. Ted Kennedy.

For further initial background on the debate, today’s Washington Post cites the call to action inherent in the recent federal Climate Change Science Program report as contributing to a “sturdy platform” for leadership from the next Administration; while the New York Times analyzes conflicting interests of various industry groups and the Wall Street Journal’s Environmental Capital predicts that “nothing much will happen.”

ClimateIntel will monitor the debate and update this blog as events warrant. C-SPAN2 is streaming the debate online (Windows Media Player or RealMedia).

For further information about this topic, please contact Akin Gump.