The Senate climate debate has largely been in standby mode since June, but Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) is ready to kick-start the process with the release next week of a draft bill.
Sources off Capitol Hill say they expect Boxer to start legislative hearings during the week of Oct. 5, with a tentative markup penciled in for the week of Oct. 12.
Of course, much depends on the fate of the Senate health care bill, just how quick U.S. EPA can turn around an economic analysis of Boxer's legislation and whether the chairwoman wants to satisfy key moderates on her panel, which include Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.).
Some Democrats say the climate bill actually has some advantages by being stuck behind health care.
"We always talk about silver linings," Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said last week. "The fact we've slowed down on health care I think gives us a chance to do a better job on the clean energy front. We need to take advantage of that."
As for specifics, Boxer had been under pressure from her left to ramp up the House-passed bill's 2020 target from 17 percent to 20 percent. "I don't have to prevail on Senator Boxer," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). "She knows what's right."
Senate Democratic aides say Boxer has settled on 20 percent, and she will make the case by arguing that the slightly higher target is not that big of a leap given recent estimates from the Energy Information Administration that show U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell 6 percent last year because of the recession and a shift away from coal and toward natural gas.
But Boxer also must deal with her right flank. Baucus appears ready to play the same role that his fellow coal-state House Democrats did by pushing for a weaker greenhouse gas emissions limit.
Rest of Story.
Sources off Capitol Hill say they expect Boxer to start legislative hearings during the week of Oct. 5, with a tentative markup penciled in for the week of Oct. 12.
Of course, much depends on the fate of the Senate health care bill, just how quick U.S. EPA can turn around an economic analysis of Boxer's legislation and whether the chairwoman wants to satisfy key moderates on her panel, which include Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.).
Some Democrats say the climate bill actually has some advantages by being stuck behind health care.
"We always talk about silver linings," Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said last week. "The fact we've slowed down on health care I think gives us a chance to do a better job on the clean energy front. We need to take advantage of that."
As for specifics, Boxer had been under pressure from her left to ramp up the House-passed bill's 2020 target from 17 percent to 20 percent. "I don't have to prevail on Senator Boxer," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.). "She knows what's right."
Senate Democratic aides say Boxer has settled on 20 percent, and she will make the case by arguing that the slightly higher target is not that big of a leap given recent estimates from the Energy Information Administration that show U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell 6 percent last year because of the recession and a shift away from coal and toward natural gas.
But Boxer also must deal with her right flank. Baucus appears ready to play the same role that his fellow coal-state House Democrats did by pushing for a weaker greenhouse gas emissions limit.
Rest of Story.
