3 Senators Join Forces to Rescue Climate Bill

Three senators with differing political views are working behind the scenes to rescue troubled climate legislation.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, accompanied by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, and Sen. Joseph...

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, accompanied by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., left, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., gestures during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday,Nov. 4, 2009, to discuss climate change legislation. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

(AP)

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., together with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Joe Lieberman, a Connecticut independent, said Wednesday they would work with the White House to patch together a bill that could pass the Senate. Meanwhile, a key Senate committee was considering advancing the bill without Republican participation.

"Our effort is to try to reach out to broaden the base of support," Kerry said at an afternoon news conference. "The key here is to really negotiate once, in a sense."

Graham, who has come under fire in his home state for his support of action on climate change, said working on legislation was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" to solve two problems: heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution and the country's dependence on foreign sources of fuel.

"If environmental policy is not good business policy, you will not get 60 votes," Graham warned. "The green economy is coming. We can either follow or lead."

The announcement came as the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for a second day delayed voting on any changes to a climate and energy bill introduced in late September by Kerry and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., because no Republicans showed up.

Democratic aides, speaking on condition of anonymity because the decision was not final, said late Wednesday that Democrats were considering advancing the bill out of committee without Republican participation. A vote could come as early as Thursday morning, and because no Republicans are expected to be present, the measure would have to be voted on without any amendments.

Republican lawmakers are demanding a more thorough economic analysis of the measure, which would reduce heat-trapping gases by 83 percent by 2050, saying it will raise energy prices and cause job losses.

The legislation, which would set up a market for pollution permits, has also raised concerns among moderate Democrats, including Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont.