Immigration Politics Threaten to Unravel Bipartisan Climate Bill Efforts

Prospects for a comprehensive climate bill passing this year suffered a blow Saturday after Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), who had been helping to write and sponsor the bill, pulled out of negotiations. But although Graham has split from Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), the split fortunately does not appear to be on substantive issues, but instead is a procedural protest directed at Majority Leader Reid. In a nut shell, Graham wants the climate bill taken up now, and not put off until after an immigration reform bill which Reid is considering pushing forward.

More details about this policy update can be found in the following articles:

Senate Climate Bill Trio Headed in Different Directions
NY Times, April 27, 2010

Troubled Senate Climate Bill to Undergo EPA Analysis
NY Times, April 26, 2010

Outlook for climate bill in U.S. Congress
Reuters, April 26, 2010

Climate Bill On Hold After Lindsey Graham Threatens To Withdraw Support Over Immigration
Huffington Post, April 24, 2010

Congress always has its ups and downs, and while this development has sparked much speculation and worry, we need to keep our message steady and strong! Please check back soon for more updates and make sure you have contacted your Senators to urge them to not cut the world's poorest communities out of the climate bill.