Republicans Key to Passing Climate Bill in the Senate
July 15, 2009
The American Clean Energy and Security Act narrowly passed the House with little Republican input or support.
A
partisan strategy can work to pass a bill in the House. It can't work
in the Senate, which follows different rules and traditions from the
more partisan, hierarchical House.
Passing legislation in the
Senate that puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions, nudges energy
markets towards low-carbon technologies, and dials back the country's
risky dependence on oil will not happen without significant Republican
backing.
That means the Senate's Democratic leaders must do much
more to engage Republicans than Congressmen Waxman and Markey did in
moving the climate bill through the House.
It also means that
Republican senators who have taken an interest in the climate issue and
have thought about constructive solutions to the problem will have to
work hard to make their voices heard.
What must Democratic
leaders do to engage Republicans? Add a section to the bill boosting
nuclear power. That could take the form of additional loan guarantees,
expanded R&D support for advanced nuclear technologies, or tweaking
the renewable energy portfolio standard to credit utilities for nuclear
development.
What must Republicans do to get into the game?
Offer solid proposals that acknowledge the need to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and map effective pathways for driving emissions down. A
critical initial goal should be moving the debate beyond arguments over
whether human activities are linked to climate change – virtually all
credible science has concluded that they are – and having a vigorous
but constructive debate on what to do about it.
In the best of
circumstances, winning 60 votes for a climate bill will not be a rose
garden, but good faith from the Senate's Democratic leaders and serious
proposals from Republicans will improve the odds.
Too much is at
stake for politics as usual to drive the process. The longer that
Congress waits to enact an effective climate policy, the more risks
that the nation's leaders are taking with our country's economy,
security, and way of life.
As Ronald Reagan used to say on the great public policy questions of his time: "If not us, who? If not now, when?"
