Decoding Senate CO2 Smoke Signals

摘要

In a series of votes on the Senate's budget resolution in late March, Democrats reminded us that energy-related environmental issues are never stricdy partisan, given the powerful place of incumbent power sources in the U.S. economy. Cases in point: Rhode Island Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse offered an amendment to the resolution that was seen as a proxy for carbon tax legislation, but 13 Democrats joined all 45 GOP senators in rejecting the proposal. Democrats also joined Republicans in a 62-37 vote approving North Dakota Republican John Hoeven's amendment supporting construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. And Democrats joined in a 66-33 vote rejecting California Democrat Barbara Boxers amendment seeking more studies on the Keystone proposal.