Earth Equity News

Warner-Lieberman on Its Way to Senate Floor. Posted by Kate Sheppard, Grist, June 2, 2008. "After months of hearings, haggling, and revision... [the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (CSA)] will reach the floor of the Senate this week... The showdown... marks the first time the full chamber has focused on a dedicated piece of global warming legislation since 2005, when the McCain-Lieberman climate bill was voted down for a second time. [McCain] played a starring role [then]... but... on Wednesday... said he wouldn't be returning to Washington for debate or voting on the bill... Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton may not show up either... in the lead-up to the last two Democratic primaries on Tuesday... [Sen. Barbara] Boxer (D-Calif.), who ushered the bill through the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee... is cosponsor of a tougher climate bill with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), but she's now thrown her weight behind the CSA because it has broader support and a better chance of passing... During floor debate, she plans to push for stricter emission targets and a greater percentage of auctioned emission permits, and she has threatened to pull the bill if it's weakened, as has Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.)... [It's still] substantially the same legislation that was passed out of... committee last December. It's not as strong as most activists and climate scientists would like, but strong enough that many of them are cheering it as a big step forward."