“Chairmen Waxman, Markey Release Discussion Draft of New Clean Energy Legislation”:
http://energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1560&Itemid=1

Great post and I hope this opportunity for bipartisanship isn’t squandered!

The piece of energy legislation that the Democratic leadership has thrown its weight behind is the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (which can be found at ). This bill includes a cap-and-trade section, but also three massive sections on clean energy development (including a nationwide Renewable Energy Standard), energy efficiency (authored by Vermont’s own Congressman Peter Welch), and green jobs/the coming green economy/weaning ourself off foreign energy. The reason I bring this up is that it provides moderate Dems and Republicans great cover in districts that aren’t so keen on the idea of cap-and-trade. These three sections do a great job of combating climate change, but are explicitly for the purpose of strengthening the ECONOMY, providing JOBS, and increasing DOMESTIC SECURITY.

Jobs, the economy, and security. Three things that are consistently at the top of polling responses these days. Hopefully the leadership will follow Obama’s lead and message on these three values of the bill.

Places to look to see if this bill is actually going to get bi-partisan support? How about Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker (both R-Tenn) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) who have consistently said they are in favor of cap-and-trade if it’s “done right.” Also, the Dems first have to convince the “Gang of 15″ Democratic senators who have consistently voiced their skepticism on cap-and-trade, including Sens. like Dorgan (ND), McCaskill (MO), Bayh (IN), Nelson (NE), Lincoln (AR) and others…

Thanks again for this post on something so near and dear to many in the Middlebury community
-Ben