Earth Equity News

Kerry Forges Ahead on the Climate Debate. By Juliet Eilperin,WashPost, September 13, 2009. "As climate change reemerges as an issue in the national policy debate, it may help define the legislative legacies of two men who once vied for the White House: Sens. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.). Both men have championed the issue of global warming for years... but, for the moment, McCain is barely engaged in the issue beyond criticizing the climate bill passed by the House, while Kerry has emerged as one of the chamber's leading dealmakers. The fact that the two no longer appear to be on the same side underscores the challenge Democrats face in enacting the first national cap on greenhouse gas emissions. 'This is a tough lift, in every respect,' said Kerry, who has held 40 one-on-one meetings with 25 fellow Democrats over the past couple of months and plans to meet with half a dozen Republicans in the next week or so. 'My hope is that common sense and the facts will prevail, but that doesn't always happen around here.'" [Editor's note: The 'common sense and facts' that Mr. Kerry speaks of, might also indicate an open mind toward revenue-neutral carbon tax -- an option that he is currently unwilling to consider.]