Earth Equity News

Murkowski and Her Lobbyist Allies. By Juliet Eilperin, WashPost, January 11, 2010. "Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is likely to postpone offering an amendment [PDF, 2pp] next week that would bar the EPA from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act, according to sources familiar with the matter. The delay would give Democrats a little bit of breathing space on the politically sensitive issue of whether the Obama administration can take the lead on curbing greenhouse gases if Congress fails to act this year. Murkowski first attempted to offer the measure back in September, but as part of a leadership deal between the two parties, she had postponed the move until Jan. 20. The maneuvering comes as The Washington Post has confirmed that two Washington lobbyists, Jeffrey R. Holmstead and Roger R. Martella, Jr., helped craft the original amendment Murkowski planned to offer on the floor last fall. Both Holmstead, who heads the Environmental Strategies Group and Bracewell & Guiliani, and Martella, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, held senior posts at EPA under the Bush administration and represents multiple clients with an interest in climate legislation pending before Congress."