Global warming measure defeated

A Democratic-sponsored measure to address global warming was defeated in the Senate on Friday because it was too aggressive and would destroy local economies, said not only opponents but even some Democrats who voted for it.

California Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer, the bill’s lead sponsor, vowed to reintroduce it next year. But a group of 10 of her party members, including some who voted to keep the bill alive, say it will fail next time as well unless it protects industries that are big producers of greenhouse gases but also major local employers.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, a freshman Democrat from Ohio and among the chamber’s more liberal members, said on the floor that Mrs. Boxer’s bill would doom his state’s economy.

“We might as well throw a going-away party for the steel industry, for the cement industry, for the glass industry, for the aluminum industry, for the chemical industry,” said Mr. Brown, who signed the letter to Mrs. Boxer.

Mr. Brown voted against the measure, but all nine of the other senators who signed the letter voted for it.

Still, Mrs. Boxer and other supporters say they’re emboldened - not discouraged - over the bill’s progress and its prospects of becoming law next year when a new Congress and president take office.

“This is a landmark day. It’s another milestone in the fight against global warming,” said an upbeat Mrs. Boxer minutes after the bill she co-sponsored was defeated.

“The Clean Air Act took 10 years; this will not take 10 years. A bill like this doesn’t happen overnight,” she said.

The measure, which was written by Sens. John W. Warner, Virginia Republican, and Joe Lieberman, Connecticut independent, called for establishing a cap-and-trade system for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Supporters said it was one of the most significant pro-environmental pieces of legislation ever on Capitol Hill. Opponents said the measure would cost jobs, hurt the overall economy, and cause gas prices to rise.

Mrs. Boxer, chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said she and others beginning next week will hold meetings to draft a strategy on reintroducing the bill next year.

The 48-36 vote was 12 short of what was needed to end a filibuster and proceed to a final vote on passage. Thirty-nine Democrats, seven Republicans and two independents voted “yes.” The “no” votes came from 32 Republicans and four Democrats.

Six absent senators sent letters in support of ending the filibuster, including John McCain, Arizona Republican, and Barack Obama, Illinois Democrat - their parties’ presumptive presidential nominees.

“We now have an indication of [support of] some 54 [senators], and I am convinced that if you work out those differences, particularly for some of our Democratic colleagues … we will near that magic number of 60,” said Sen. John Kerry, Massachusetts Democrat.

But it’s difficult to predict how many votes the bill would have garnered if it had been up for a final vote on the merits, as some senators who voted to end the filibuster also said they had significant concerns with the package.

Story Continues →