An alternative to the Climate Security Act
America's Climate Security Act (S. 2191) is supposed to be coming to the floor of the Senate sometime in early June.Even though S. 2191 hasn't yet reached the floor, an alternative is already percolating. Sen. George Voinovich plans to introduce his own climate change bill: the Incentives-Based Climate Policy Act.
The Voinovich bill -- still in draft form -- looks like an attempt at a real, middle-of-the-road compromise in the increasingly partisan debate over reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
While S. 2191 would require a nearly 20 percent reduction in emissions by 2020, the Voinovich bill would reduce emissions to 2006 levels (7075.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide) by 2020 and to 1990 levels (6146.7) by 2030.
Both measures are more stringent than Bush's call to halt emissions growth by 2025.
Given that the Lieberman-Warner bill is almost certain to face a cloture vote, the Voinovich bill might have more traction as a middle ground alternative. Although McCain and Warner are powerful senators, I don't think they've got 60 votes to overcome a cloture motion. But Voinovich's bill? Maybe, just maybe, it has a chance before the Senate wraps up this busy election year.
Both measures are more stringent than Bush's call to halt emissions growth by 2025.
Given that the Lieberman-Warner bill is almost certain to face a cloture vote, the Voinovich bill might have more traction as a middle ground alternative. Although McCain and Warner are powerful senators, I don't think they've got 60 votes to overcome a cloture motion. But Voinovich's bill? Maybe, just maybe, it has a chance before the Senate wraps up this busy election year.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-30-2008 @ 10:18AM
Miles said...
I wouldn't be nearly so generous to Sen. Voinovich's proposal. As Dave Roberts detailed at Grist yesterday, the bill might actually take us backwards on climate change by erasing state action ...
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/4/28/145752/895
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4-30-2008 @ 5:36PM
Melissa said...
Miles, thanks for your comment. The draft language I'd seen and read about didn't have preemption language. That does change things quite a bit.
Re: cap and trade. It was my understanding that the bill would institute a cap and trade if progress toward emissions standards wasn't substantial or adequate or [insert buzzword].
Tax credits certainly aren't as economically efficient as subsidies or even ouright cash transfers but they seem to be about all the US can handle. Esp. since the AFDC to TANF reform in the early 90s, subsidy has become yet another four letter word.
5-05-2008 @ 4:10PM
Gary said...
The Voinovich bill is incredibly weak, calling for reductions far below the levels recommended by scientists. It has absolutely no chance of being passed, and hasn’t garnered the support of a single Democrat.
The Lieberman-Warner bill IS the middle of the road bill. It's weaker than other climate bills that many Democrats support (such as S 309 and S 485) and strong enough to pick up a few Republicans (most of whom are opposed to any serious climate legislation).
Mellissa, you really need to read up on your climate policy before you write more articles.
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