The Senate just failed to move forward a major bill that would overhaul the nation's carbon emissions standards. By a 48 to 36 vote, senators this morning failed to obtain cloture on the bill that  calls for cutting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by about 70 percent from power plants, refineries, factories and transportation by mid-century.

President Bush had vowed to veto the bill, saying it would have created economic chaos by and jacked up the price of energy. The bill's future is now uncertain.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, condemned Republicans for stalling the bill and linked its failure to GOP presidential candidate John McCain, who did not show up for this morning's vote.

"We saw this morning yet another example of Bush-McCain Republicans refusing to address one of the most important issues of our time," Reid said. "When you look at who Republicans have chosen as the new standard-bearer, this is not entirely surprising: Senator McCain says global warming is one of his top issues, but when he has the chance to do something about it, he doesn’t even show up to work."

— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times

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