Monday, March 22, 2010 4:23 PM
Moderate Dems To Reid: We Want A Bill
By Amy Harder, NationalJournal.com
Twenty-two Democrats, including many moderates, are urging the Senate to pass climate and energy legislation this year "with a renewed focus on jobs and a reduced dependence on foreign oil," according to a letter they sent to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., late Friday.
Signers include Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. Both hail from Midwestern industrial states, and they are wary of the effect a carbon pricing system could have on their states' economies. They have been working on the issue with the Senate trio crafting the legislation.
"Our lack of a comprehensive clean energy policy hurts job creation and increases regulatory uncertainty throughout our economy," the Democrats wrote. "Businesses are waiting on clear signals from Congress before investing billions in energy, transportation, manufacturing, buildings and other sectors." The senators did not mention EPA's forthcoming greenhouse gas regulations or efforts by Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, to delay or block those regulations. Neither Rockefeller nor his West Virginia colleague Robert Byrd signed on to the letter.
The letter was sent amid two other statements released by environmental and industry and business groups hailing the Senate's efforts on bipartisan climate and energy legislation.
Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico organized and sent the letter. The other Democrats who signed on are: Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Mark Warner of Virginia, Mark Begich of Arkansas, Kay Hagan of North Carolina, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet of Colorado, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray of Washington, Arlen Specter and Bob Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman of Delaware, Roland Burris of Illinois, Tom Harkin of Iowa and Jon Tester of Montana.
Darren Goode contributed to this report.
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