Environment -- Senate Takes On Cap-And-Trade

June 2, 2008

by Faiz Shakir, Amanda Terkel, Satyam Khanna, Matt Corley, Ali Frick, Benjamin Armbruster, and Brad Johnson

ENVIRONMENT

Senate Takes On Cap-And-Trade

Today, the Senate begins an historic floor debate on legislation that calls for mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, Sen. Barbara Boxer's (D-CA) version of the Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act (S. 3036). This is the first time the Senate will engage in full debate on legislation to cap global warming pollution and create a multi-billion-dollar market of tradable pollution permits. Lieberman-Warner would limit emissions from coal-fired power plants, oil refiners, and other major carbon polluters, reducing total U.S. emissions by 18 to 25 percent below current levels by 2020, and 62 to 66 percent lower by 2050. Such legislation would mark an important first step in the transition away from a fossil-fuel economy. Although the bill is "by no means perfect," as Daniel J. Weiss, Center for American Progress Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy, argues, "the Climate Security Act is the most comprehensive and potentially effective global warming bill ever before the U.S. Senate." Not surprisingly, this fundamental restructuring is encountering stiff opposition from industry polluters. As former British prime minister Tony Blair wrote, this week's debate represents "a hugely important signal of intent on behalf of U.S. legislators."

KEY ISSUES: Three core principles by which to judge climate legislation are whether it is scientifically sound, whether it makes polluters pay, and whether it ensures social equity. Lieberman-Warner takes major steps in the right direction with its mandatory reductions framework, assistance for low-income households, and many provisions to spur new jobs, renewable technology, and energy efficiency. Yet it falls short in a key aspect: auctioning revenues. A Center for American Progress report released today explains the clear benefits of auctioning 100 percent of the greenhouse gas emission permits, as reflected in a bill introduced by Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) last week. In contrast, Lieberman-Warner directs hundreds of billions of dollars of "transitional assistance" to polluters and allows 30 percent of the allowance market to be "offsets" instead of direct reductions. A new call to action signed by 1,700 top climate scientists and economists calls for significantly deeper greenhouse emissions reductions than the bill would achieve. Last year, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determined that industrialized nations like the United States, whose prosperity is built on a century of unlimited greenhouse pollution, need to reduce emissions by at least 36 percent from current levels by 2020 and at least 85 percent by 2050 to have an even shot at avoiding climate catastrophe.

POLLUTER ALLEGIANCE: Even after recent lobbyist purges, Sen. John McCain's (R-AZ) campaign is still run by corporate lobbyists who represent foreign and domestic oil interests -- such as top adviser Charlie Black. McCain's corporate tax cut would save just the 20 largest energy and utility companies around $3 billion a year, in addition to the $4 billion tax break for America's five largest oil companies. His voting record shows consistent opposition to renewable technologies and support for big oil. McCain has stated his opposition to the Climate Security Act -- authored by two of his closest allies, Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and John Warner (R-VA) -- because it doesn't offer enough aid to the nuclear industry. CAP Senior Fellow Joseph Romm explains in a new Center for American Progress Action Fund report, "Since nuclear power is a mature electricity generation technology with a large market share and is the beneficiary of some $100 billion in direct and indirect subsidies since 1948, it neither requires nor deserves significant subsidies in any future climate law." In fact, "Many other technologies can deliver more low-carbon power at far less cost."

THE MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP: All three remaining candidates for president -- Sens. McCain, Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Barack Obama (D-IL) -- believe that climate change is an issue of primal urgency. But their role in the upcoming Senate debate is unclear. Despite arguing on the stump that he "will not shirk the mantle of leadership that the United States bears" on global warming, McCain "will miss the entire proceedings because he will be campaigning all week." In 2003 and 2005, climate legislation sponsored by McCain was voted down by the Senate under terms that limited debate. "[I]t seems if he can't be the star, he won't bother with so much as a walk-on part," Gristmill's Kate Sheppard wrote. While McCain has criticized Lieberman-Warner for insufficient nuclear subsidies, Clinton and Obama unveiled plans months ago that call for stronger emissions reductions and a broad, society-wide approach to global warming that goes far beyond capping emissions to reform the transportation and electricity infrastructure, prioritize energy efficiency, transform the housing industry, and create millions of new high-paying jobs. However, neither Democratic candidate has committed to participating in today's debate or votes, as the final primaries in the contested campaign take place tomorrow.

CIVIL RIGHTS -- GAY MARRIAGE MAY PROVIDE BOOST TO CALIFORNIA ECONOMY: Last month, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) said that he hopes his state's Supreme Court ruling allowing gay marriages would encourage more couples to come to the state to be wed and boost the state's economy. Indeed, the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau also expects a tourism boom this summer, and its website now "promotes a gay travel section." The Los Angeles Times reports today that "one UCLA study projects that same-sex unions could provide a $370-million shot in the arm to the state economy over the next three years." The Times adds, "By some estimates, weddings and commitment ceremonies for same-sex couples generate $1 billion a year in revenue." PlanetOut, a media and entertainment company that conducts surveys about gay and lesbian consumers, "says gay consumers...spend about 10 [percent] more on nuptials" than their straight counterparts. Tom Rosa, owner of the Cake and Art bakery in Santa Monica said, "Being in West Hollywood, we've been inundated...after the ruling, the phone really picked up."

ADMINISTRATION -- McCLELLAN SAYS BUSH SHOULD HAVE FIRED KARL ROVE: In former press secretary Scott McClellan's explosive new memoir, he says he asked Karl Rove "an unambiguous, unqualified catch-all question" about his involvement in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame. Yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press," McClellan repeated that he had asked Rove, "were you involved in any way" in the leaking of Plame's identity, to which Rove "categorically said, 'No.'" Last week, however, Rove insisted McClellan has asked him only "did I leak Valerie Plame's name, and the answer is no." Rove had been involved in the outing of Plame, and McClellan said yesterday that Bush "should have stood by" his promise to fire anyone involved. "[T]hat meant Rove should have left," McClellan said. McClellan also pledged yesterday to donate a portion of the proceeds of his book to veterans of the Iraq war, after MoveOn launched a petition urging him to do so. While airing his complaints about the Bush administration, McClellan has suffered attacks from the White House and its allies, who have called him a "traitor" and "Benedict," likened him to "left-wing bloggers," and compared him to Judas selling out Jesus.

IRAQ -- NEW CONTRACTS SUGGEST 'MULTI-YEAR' U.S. COMMITMENT IN IRAQ: The Washington Post reports today that a "handful of new contract proposals made public in May" illustrate the "depth of United States involvement in Iraq," suggesting that the U.S. has planned a continued presence in the country. "The contracts call for new spending, from supplying mentors to officials with Iraq's Defense and Interior ministries to establishing a U.S.-marshal-type system to protect Iraqi courts. Contractors would provide more than 100 linguists with secret clearances and deliver food to Iraqi detainees at a new, U.S.-run prison.," notes reporter Walter Pincus. Many of the contracts are "multi-year commitments." For example, a new prison near Baghdad would hold thousands of detainees and hundreds of employees with a contract set to "run for one year, with an option year to follow." The State Department "also is looking to hire a contractor to provide '100 plus linguists' who would work for a year each, with as many as four one-year options to follow." Last month, the New York Times reported that the State Department had renewed the contract of Blackwater Worldwide," the private security contractor involved in an allegedly unprovoked shooting in September 2007 that killed up to 17 Iraqis, "for at least another year."

Australian troops "ended their main combat mission in Iraq on Sunday, handing over their responsibilities in southern Iraq to U.S. forces." Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was elected last November, "had pledged during campaigning to end his country's frontline military role in Iraq."

"American deaths in the Iraq war dropped to 19 in May, their lowest monthly level since the invasion in 2003, the United States military said Sunday." But military officials are "reluctant to highlight the number as a milestone" because "there have been troughs in American casualty rates before, only to be followed by increases."

Using information gleaned from statements by the "U.S. military, the Council of Europe and related parliamentary bodies, and the testimonies of prisoners," human rights lawyers have said that the "United States is operating 'floating prisons' to house those arrested in its war on terror" in "an attempt to conceal the numbers and whereabouts of detainees.

A draft declaration shows that the "United States is blocking efforts to get next month’s Group of Eight summit to agree targets for cutting carbon emissions over the next 20 years." The Bush administration is insisting climate action come only through its "Major Emitters" group.

"It is time for Michael Mukasey, the attorney general, to stand up for justice by enforcing Congress’s subpoenas," the New York Times says of the prosecution of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman. "If he will not do that, Congress must ensure that its investigative authority is not thwarted. Mr. Rove seems willing to talk about this case everywhere except where he is required to."

Worker advocates and lawmakers say the fact that "hundreds of workers have been sentenced but not one company official as yet faces any charges" following "the biggest immigration raid in U.S. history" is "typical of a federal government that is tough on employees but easy on owners." Of the 389 workers arrested in the May 14 raid at the Agriprocessors, Inc. plant in Postville, IA, 297 have pleaded guilty.

The U.S. State Department "has reinstated seven Fulbright grants offered to Palestinians in Gaza for advanced study in the United States, reversing a decision to withdraw the scholarships because of Israel’s ban on Palestinians' leaving Gaza for study abroad."

In the next several weeks, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) "intends to call up a number of union-friendly measures," including bills expanding "collective-bargaining rights for firefighters and other public safety employees" and requiring that "workers on projects to bolster renewable-energy facilities be paid the local prevailing wage."

"Some of the nation's biggest banks have closed their doors to students at community colleges, for-profit universities and other less competitive institutions." The practice suggests that "some of the nation's neediest students will be hurt the most."

And finally: Fox News host Bill O'Reilly has been whining that Scott McClellan hasn't yet come on his show. O’Reilly has claimed that McClellan's promotion strategy has been, "Go to the Bush-hater people and that’s where we'll sell our books." McClellan's publishers claim that they tried to book McClellan on O'Reilly's show, but his bookers balked at not getting the former White House press secretary first -- before NBC's Today Show. McClellan is now due to appear tonight.

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"A report set for release today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) shows trips on public transit January-March rose 3% over the same period last year to 2.6 billion rides. Light rails saw the biggest jump: 10% to 110 million trips."

TEXAS: Same-sex couples in Texas are heading to California for licensed marriages.

NEW YORK: A New York court is giving veterans prone to committing crime a chance to "straighten out."

ECONOMY: "More than a dozen states would be hard-pressed to provide unemployment benefits if the economy tailspins into a full-blown recession and more workers get pink slips."

THINK PROGRESS: President Bush's name gets no applause in a South Carolina gathering of conservatives.

WONK ROOM: New York Times blogger: No health care for you! because it would undermine military recruitment.

MEDIA MATTERS: Rush Limbaugh refers to members of a indigenous Brazilian tribe as "savages."

"On balance, we are doing pretty well. ... Near strategic defeat of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Near strategic defeat for al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia. Significant setbacks for al-Qaeda globally."
-- CIA Director Michael Hayden, 5/30/08

VERSUS

"The positions attributed to you are not consistent with assessments that have been provided to the Senate Intelligence Committee over the past year. ... I have seen nothing, including classified intelligence reporting, that would lead me to this conclusion."
-- Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), 5/30/08

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Senate Takes On Cap-And-Trade

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