This Week on the Hill
After the divisiveness that marked the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) mark up of climate legislation last week, the legislation moves to the two other committees with significant climate jurisdiction-Finance and Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Max Baucus, who last week supplied the only “no” vote among Democrats on EPW, will lead his committee in an examination of the legislation and, in particular, look at the contentious issues surrounding offsets and allocations. In the Senate Energy Committee, Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Murkowski are hoping to forge a moderate consensus on the renewable energy and production titles of the bill. Many senators are looking at this week’s action as a chance to start fresh, away from the ideological schisms in the EPW Committee.
Meanwhile, a group of Senators, led by Lindsay Graham, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman, are looking to create their tri-partisan compromise on expanded offshore and nuclear production in exchange for caps on carbon. This group of three intends to meet with Administration officials, including Carol Browner.
Tuesday, November 10
At 10 a.m. both the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold hearings in Room 215 and Room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, respectively, on climate legislation.