By IAN TALLEY
WASHINGTON — Key Senate Democrats Tuesday said it is unlikely there will be any more major committee action on climate-change legislation this year, the strongest indication yet that a comprehensive bill to cut greenhouse-gas emissions won’t be voted on until at least next year.
Although the Senate Environment Committee last week approved a version of the bill, the proposal will face strong revisions from moderate Democrats, particularly from senators on the Finance and Agriculture committees.
“It’s common understanding that climate-change legislation will not be brought up on the Senate floor and pass the Senate this year,” Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus said on the sidelines of a caucus lunch.
…
“I wouldn’t want to bet my paycheck that all the relevant committees will report out legislation by the end of this year,” said Sen. Thomas Carper (D., Del.).
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D., Mich.), who is leading an effort by moderate, heartland Democrats to protect manufacturing and agriculture industries, said committees were no longer under any timetables to produce legislation.
…
Even Sen. John Kerry (D., Mass.), a climate-bill champion who last week said committees should have climate legislation processed by the end of the year, Tuesday backed off such expectations. “I don’t want to create artificial deadlines which get in the way of our being methodical about this,” he said.
Instead, Mr. Kerry said he is focused on getting the 60 votes necessary to pass controversial climate legislation — a higher margin than a simple majority and no mean feat. “The main thing to do here is to build the adequate base of support and consensus,” he said.
h/t to Dr. Benny Peiser
Pieter F (07:38:35) : “Obama wanted Congressional action on the matter prior to the Copenhagen Conference to bolster his (and Holdren’s) position and intent to sign the treaty. What are the implications of this delay? Will the Copenhagen Treaty supersede any Congressional action(?) I recall the draft treaty has some language that binds a country with the signature of a head of state.”
The multi-alternative draft document is:
un-fccc-copenhagen-2009
Pieter, I didn’t find that particular language, but they may have made it difficult to search for. The words signature and endorse are not in the document, as near as I could tell. Please keep looking. I did find this:
“[…Provision of capacity-building support to developing country Parties, along with delivery of financial support and technology transfer, shall be a legally binding obligation of developed country Parties, with consequences for non-compliance.]
(“Ve vill haff our methods to ensure kompliance…”)
Note, too, that developing countries’ participation is voluntary and not binding, even after signature.
Seems OT, but it’s not.
Authors Brenda and Robert Vale have found that a midsize dog is worse for Earth climate than a Toyota Landcruiser and recommend that dog-owners shoud at least get rid of their second family car.
How about people buying a big SUV to move their big dog(s)? They are climate killers par excellence.
And great to know that in Sweden the climate “foodprint” (my copyright, I hope) was invented. Means that food cans or boxes now show how climate-friendly the content is.
How about dog food in that context?
“Remember you are not paranoid if everyone really is out to get you”
“Beware the miscreants in the dark of the night.”
EPA indicates that it believes that although the majority of facilities that would be subject to this rule are
electric generating units and industrial facilities that already have Title V Operating Permits, additional
facilities—including landfills and large commercial facilities such as large hospitals—would become
subject to the Title V and PSD programs for the first time.
Background to the Rule Proposal
Since 1993 through the CAA’s Acid Rain program and more recently through the Mandatory Reporting
of Greenhouse Gases Rule,1 EPA requires certain facilities to monitor and report emissions of carbon
dioxide (CO2) and other GHGs, but has not established emission limits for GHGs. In April 2009,
however, EPA issued a proposed finding that six GHGs endanger human health and welfare by
contributing to global climate change and therefore should be regulated as air contaminants under the
CAA. The six GHGs that are the subject of this proposed endangerment finding, as well as this rule
proposal under the Title V and PSD programs, are
CO2,
methane,
nitrous oxide,
hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons, and
sulfur hexafluoride.
wws (07:45:05) , This is a best case scenario , and one that I hope for . However , I’m afraid that congress is so determined to pass this that they don’t care about the consequences , politically speaking . They apparently feel that the money machine and the media will save their bacon next fall . Of course they do this at their own risk , and right now , the polls are against them . Then again we have the EPA’s endangerment finding , which hopefully will get bogged down with lawsuits . The best we can hope for is enough time to get more and better science out there for the public , as the pols obviously don’t give a flying fig about science , and the greenies in the administration would just as soon repress it .
Now is not the time to celebrate or become complacent. These economy-killing bills are like zombies. They just won’t die.
I just read the news here. On its face: great news! (Sigh)
I have the sense that we just stepped back from the edge of the abyss. The abyss is still there, mind you, but we’re not about to jump (or be pushed).
I fear(ed) the tinderbox that these kooks were creating. I also can’t count all the thoughts I’ve self-edited so as not to be snipped.
Anthony…do not relent. I believe some of this is attributable to you.
Let’s not forget that the EPA is on a mission to regulate CO2 even if Congress doesn’t have the will to do so. The U.S. Supreme Court in a ruling last year found that the EPA does have the authority to regulate CO2 as a pollutant under existing law. The EPA has already closed the comment period for their authority to issue regulations and are currently fast tracking the process for finalization. While the Obama administration made a half hearted suggestion that they would prefer climate legislation from congress the absence of such will not prevent the EPA from issuing regulations requiring the reduction in CO2 emissions. What they can’t do is institute a cap and trade scheme since that is something entirely new to existing environmental law.
And remember under the Air Quality legislation their is no limitation on lack of available technology to do so. If there is no way to control CO2 emissions with technology, the EPA can require a complete shut down to achieve the desired results.
We are not done with this issue by a long shot. Senators may be less willing to commit political suicide (especially when few have safe seats because they must stand before their entire state voters not just the ones they select as in the House), however this administration is as reckless as ever with our economic future.
It just takes a leap of faith to declare the EPA as having been infiltrated by terrorists and all bets are off. You have to rip the thing apart and reconstruct it. All bogus funding vanishes. All supporters are questioned about their motives etc. etc.
A lot of ‘Sh–/stuff’ (pc compliant) is going to hit the fan real soon and maybe McCarthyism will be reborn in a good way.
Just my 10 cent’s worth. Except I’m a Brit so it’s 10p.
Get on with it you Yanks. Save us from this green nightmare! We have no hope. All of our government’s are sucking on the commie tit.
So… is this, finally, some change we can believe in?
The problem I see is what ISN’T happening: Few if any congressmen are saying: “Absolutely NO- because AGW is a fantasy. ” The way to beat this thing is to start calling it what it is:
A (take your pick) SCAM/HOAX/FANTASY/PSYCHOSIS/RELIGIOUS CULT
Sonicfrog (08:34:15) :
You beat me to it.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,574665,00.html
I still say there’s not a trace of color left in Gore’s face these days.
He looks worse than Bush, Paulson and sidekick on the day they announced
the Financial Meltdown Blowout.
Whether or not various Senate committees have dropped further activities on global warming legislation, the EPA is pushing its CO2 endangerment declaration like there is no tomorrow. AGWers have a multi-pronged attack under way. Don’t believe anything they say,
co2–that’s you and your kids, your job and your transportation
methane–that’s your diet if it includes beef, milk, cheese, sour cream, etc.
nitrous oxide–that’s internal combustion engines, but it is an extremely important agricultural fertilizer, so that is food production they are going after
It is also a very effective food preservative.
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is an inorganic, colorless, odorless, non-toxic and non-flammable gas (under standard conditions). Of the 8,000 tons of SF6 produced per year, most (6,000 tons) is used as a gaseous dielectric medium in the electrical industry. SF6 is used in the electrical industry as a gaseous dielectric medium for high-voltage (35 kV and above) circuit breakers, switchgear, and other electrical equipment, often replacing oil filled circuit breakers (OCBs) Wik
hydrofluorocarbons,
perfluorocarbons–help me out here, I think this is all refrigeration. What would life be without the ol’ ‘fridge?
Yes, but the EPA can be sued almost indefinitely. If the past is any indication, it would take 10 years to implement any plan by the EPA.
The last time there was a rumor that the bill was dead, they passed it.
Timetables or no timetable, Debbie Stabenow is not to be trusted. She is a nut who lives in some alternate universe and claims she can feel global warming when flying.
“Climate change is very real,” Stabenow confessed as she embraced cap and trade’s massive tax increase on Michigan industry – at the same time claiming, against all the evidence, that it would not lead to an increase in manufacturing costs or energy prices. “Global warming creates volatility. I feel it when I’m flying. The storms are more volatile. We are paying the price in more hurricanes and tornadoes.”
Now pay attention! What about this:
The study also recommends a cut in consumption of low nutritional value foods such as alcohol, chocolate and sweets, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by their production
[The UN study] also singles out alcohol, which is responsible for around 1.5 per cent of total emissions but contributes little in nutritional value.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3107696/Consumers-should-cut-meat-and-milk-intake-to-combat-climate-change.html
So fight for your co2 like a man! If there be any among you left.
This will probably mean that our Europe will have to go its own lonely way and will jump into a socialist/ecofascist continent with a decreasing and weakening economy comparable with the situation in the former East-block.
Oh well, now it is up to Australia and the lawyer in charge of our climate to lead the world and stand proudly on the headland of the high moral ground at Copenhagen. If only Turnbull didn’t represent the archetype climate change alarmist demographic he might be able to show some independent thinking and true leadership.
Regards
Michael
Despite the El Nino, not to mention the Global Warming (oops- cancel that) Climate Change cited by our politicians and media:
Early snow bodes well for B.C. resorts:
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Early+snow+bodes+well+resorts/2212251/story.html
“The snow gods appear to smiling on B.C. this Olympic winter, with gobs of snow falling unseasonably early at resorts throughout the province.”
Just saying it again,
Who needs Copenhagen when you have the EPA….
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2009/11/09/epa-sends-co2-endangerment-finding-to-the-white-house/
Worth re-reading
“Climate change is very real,” Stabenow confessed as she embraced cap and trade’s massive tax increase on Michigan industry – at the same time claiming, against all the evidence, that it would not lead to an increase in manufacturing costs or energy prices. “Global warming creates volatility. I feel it when I’m flying. The storms are more volatile. We are paying the price in more hurricanes and tornadoes.”
That is what I call damaged thinking. It’s normal to want to see things you are looking for, but there is a limit wherein one steps back and asks: “Is this really happening?”. Isolation, extreme religious dogma and drugs are forces that can lead to an alternate reality. We did not inherit such wild imaginations, but they can be induced. We did not evolve to be in a plane at 30,000′ trying to feel the warming a cause insists must be a real & present danger.
The remedy for such a bent is simple: Go out into the Michigan countryside and try to eke out sustenance from the frozen ground. Hunger will erase the feelings at 30,000′. The thinking after that will be like the weary traveller having crossed the desert and finding the warmth of civilization…
and refuge.
You don’t know how good you got it until one day it’s gone.
Hundreds of millions of Americans are finding that out.
Some of our politicians need help in coming back down to Earth from the mirage of 30,000′. Some of them cannot be reached.
The EPA has the ability to do a lot of damage in the short term – but their greatest weakness is that they only have the ability to issue economically destructive edicts. Meaning that they have the ability to restrict emissions and force expensive control technology, which will increase the cost greatly, but they do not have the power to authorize any affordable substitutes.
Only an ideologue could fail to see the absolute disaster this approach would be in practice. Can you imagine the outrage when, in a nation already at 10% unemployment levels and rising, the bureaucracy begins mandating job losses in heavy industry? And higher power costs in hard hit midwestern areas? If they tried this, it would result in the greatest political backlash in US political history and Carol Browner’s political head would be served up on a platter.
As would any political party that continued to support her!
It’s interesting to note that the Kyoto resolution passed by the Clinton Congress, was on a 95 to 0 vote.
Recall the 95 Theses of Martin Luther, nailed to the church door?
Today the proponents of climate change throw in the towel and perhaps, possibly, learn a lesson in humility?? It is a different world now. Knowledge is flowing through crumbling walls of ignorance. Those seeking to browbeat the once-ignorant, find it a frustrating task.
Men. Good men. Men of integrity; will not allow their families and children to be bullied by the machinations of propaganda. If those machinations are fueled by lies, distortions, untruths – they will fail. Machines need fuel. The fuel of distortion and untruth, has just about run out.