New Senate Climate Bill to be Unveiled April 26

Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) plan to unveil the climate change bill they have been working on for months on April 26.  The proposal is anticipated to set a series of greenhouse gas emission limits for different sectors of the economy and expand oil, gas and nuclear power production.  In order to allow for more flexibility during the negotiations process, the trio will release a discussion draft rather than introduce a formal bill.

Introducing a draft bill rather than formal legislation will place Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) directly in charge of negotiations on the bill.  In announcing this tactical decision, Senator Lieberman said “We want [Majority Leader Harry Reid] to be able to work with it and bring it out onto the floor as a leader whenever he’s ready.”

White House officials also continue to be involved in crafting the bill.  Rahm Emmanuel, President Obama’s Chief of Staff, held a meeting at the White House with representatives from various environmental organizations on April 15.  Earlier in the week, other White House officials including Secretary of Interior Kenneth Salazar, and Energy and Climate Advisor Carole Browner met with Senators Kerry, Graham, and Lieberman.

The new climate bill will compete for space on Senate’s agenda with other top Obama initiatives including Wall Street regulatory reform and a nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.