From TorStar:
WASHINGTON–Senate Republicans on Friday blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases, pushing debate over the world's biggest environmental concern to next year for a new Congress and president.
Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of getting the 60 needed to end a Republican filibuster on the measure and bring the bill up for a vote, prompting Majority Leader Harry Reid to pull the legislation from consideration.
The Senate debate focused on bitter disagreement over the expected economic costs of putting a price on carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas that comes from burning fossil fuels. Opponents said it would lead to higher energy costs.
Nice as it sounds, the proposal fell short of what is necessary, but would be superior to what is in place now: nothing! The economic impact argument was a red herring -- the expected costs would constrain the US economy by only a few months over a period of decades -- if you buy into that premise. The costs of global warming exist whether you count them or not.
Missed by many, though, was that buried in the bill was an allocation of subsidy for building nuclear plants. The subsidy amount? Try $544 billion -- that's right, BILLION.
$544 BILLION. For. Nuclear.
Despite how this is being reported, the bill was being squeezed from both sides. Organizations, such as NIRS we're opposed to this bill, though they favour carbon reduction.
Read more at Common Dreams.
Not in attendance were notable senators Obama, Clinton and McCain, though they supported the bill with letters.
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Posted By Mark Francis to Section 15 at 6/06/2008 01:42:00 PM
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