Need-To-Know Memo, Nov. 6
Amy Harder
Friday, November 6, 2009 9:37 AM
1) Sen. Max Baucus' opposition in the Environment and Public Works Committee's 11-1 vote to advance Kerry-Boxer on Thursday "highlights how much further Democratic leaders need to travel before a bill can be vetted on the floor." The moderate Montana Democrat said he's trying for a bill that will get 60 votes. He said he hopes his Finance Committee will mark up the bill this year, but he expressed doubts the Senate would move it soon enough (CongressDailyPM -- subscription).
2) "Potential Senate Republican backers of climate legislation," including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, said the EPW panel's decision to move the bill with no GOP input "might have essentially killed it" (CongressDailyAM -- subscription). The move does, though, open the door for more senators to explore different options (Politico).
3) Environmental groups are in a tight spot: While they're lobbying for the strongest climate change bill possible, many have softened their stances against provisions they traditionally oppose, such as offshore drilling and nuclear energy, in the name of getting a bill passed (Environment & Energy Daily -- subscription).
4) These groups are also facing a parallel challenge: convincing Americans that saving the planet -- for the environment's sake -- is important in and of itself. Some say environmental groups should instead focus more on the economic benefits of climate change legislation (Washington Post).
5) A $1.5 billion joint Chinese-American wind farm that will be built in Texas does not involve any federal stimulus money, the company responsible for the project said Thursday. The announcement comes after Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., urged the administration not to aid in the construction since most of the wind turbines would be built in China (Bloomberg News).
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