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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