Sen. Joe Lieberman, I/D-Conn., is a central player in the Senate climate change debate, working with Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to craft compromise legislation. Lieberman has been involved in climate change issues since 2003, when he worked with Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Congress' first global-warming legislation.

Lieberman spoke with National Journal on Monday. Edited excerpts follow.

NJ: Do you and Sens. Kerry and Graham plan to unveil a bipartisan energy independence and climate bill next week?

Lieberman: Yes.

Lieberman: We do, and again, whether we get the votes this time is not clear. Interestingly, some of the same things that some of the Republicans are interested in are of interest to some of the moderate Democrats, who are not sure shots, not committed to supporting the bill. So, bottom line, yes, I think we have a chance at a sufficient number of Republicans and Democrats to get to 60. We're in very intense negotiations with undecided senators in both parties. Do I think it's possible to get 60 votes this year? I do. Whether we will or not remains to be seen.

Lieberman: I think he'll have to feel that we have a chance at 60 votes. I don't think he's going to require that we definitely have it, that he's absolutely sure that we'll have it. He wants to do this. Look, again, after the exhaustion of health care reform, and in the partisan climate and all the rest, to me, a couple of things: If we can prove we have broad bipartisan support from outside business, environmentalists, etc., then maybe there's going to be an appetite and even a desire for people, including some of our Republican colleagues, to be able to say yes. And I think Harry would like to get us to a point where we say yes.

Lieberman: The good news is, we share the same goals and they're prepared to price carbon. I think we just decided that for now we're just going to go our separate ways. But in the end, I can't tell you how this is going to happen, because I don't know, but Senator Cantwell and Senator Collins and Senators Kerry and Graham and I are going to be on the same side.

Lieberman: I don't. The only way it might intersect is time, but I think in the end, most of the time will be spent on the Supreme Court nomination in the Judiciary Committee, and once it comes to the floor, it might take a week, but I don't think it's going to take a lot longer.

Lieberman: I hope that we get in a position to bring this up some time in June. It may roll over into July.

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