Climate of Our Future

Climate Crisis Coalition

By Jonathan Weisman and Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, December 7, 2007. “The House yesterday brushed aside a new White House veto threat and handily approved a comprehensive energy bill that would raise automobile fuel-efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years and require increased use of renewable energy sources to generate electricity. The 235 to 181 vote sends the measure to the Senate today. There, Republicans hope to strip it of tax increases on the oil industry and the renewable-source requirement before a final version goes to President. The White House objects to the bill on multiple fronts, including the prospect of tax boosts on oil companies, saying Bush would veto it… Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will call for a rare Saturday vote to break off debate on the energy bill and move to final passage. Senate Democratic leaders expressed strong support for the bill and will push hard for the 60 votes needed to break a threatened filibuster… The vote is expected to be close — Reid has summoned the Senate’s four Democratic presidential candidates for the motion — but if Democrats cannot muster 60 votes, large portions of the bill could be dropped, such as many of the tax measures and possibly the 15-percent renewable energy mandate on utilities.” [Editor’s Note: The cloture vote took place a day early. It was a loss.]  Keep reading