5.2. ERMUSR 04-17-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Finally, the long term hope in the Senate is to garner the 60 votes necessary on the old, comprehensive, $18 billion bill that pounds the oil and gas guys but still does not include the proper CREB language. This is wishful +hinking for Democrats, who hope to move a tax bill to the floor before Memorial Day recess. dUCLEAR A new tax bill obviously offers an opportunity for public power to include the nuclear PTC language, despite some major hurdles. APPA and LPPC are working together on this issue, including an upcoming meeting with NEI (the coops are also invited). CLIMATE The Senate still leads in this category: yesterday Majority Leader Reid told supporters of Lieberman-Warner that floor time is now being reserved for the first week in June, despite the absence of the magical 60 votes. However, Sens. Lieberman and Boxer are now suggesting they have 45 hard votes, and a possible 15, depending on how the floor debate proceeds. Large questions still loom: • Is floor time on this controversial issue worth the political risk for the Democrats, especially in this volatile election year? • At crunch time, can the Dems get close to 60 votes? • Can the Dems overcome the large number of amendments that will surely come (200, 100, or even 50 serious amendments)? • With the downturn in the economy, and possible waning of climate as a priority issue, is this the time to bring up the leading Senate bill? • Does the Senate look silly if the House is taking a more measured, inclusive approach to their legislation? In addition, supporters of moving a bill still are unhappy with Chairman Boxer's floor strategy -she stated she'd pull the bill if "bad things" started happening on the floor. Not a very cooperative thing to say. Finally, the environmental community seriously wanting floor debate, let alone a bill, is still an open question. The House, meanwhile, proceeds - as the House moves to developing its legislation Rick Boucher's abcommittee has announced a climate hearing next week that will look at possible changes to the Clean Air Act as a way to tackle ghg emissions. FARM BILL Two steps forward, one step back. With another deadline of April 18looming-possibly the last extension granted-key negotiators are still haggling over final numbers/cost, and pay-fors. This is now an open, ugly, and divisive process, with lots of finger pointing. Bottom line: the Senate wants an additional $10 billion over the baseline, including a tax package full of special treatment projects, to go for conservation and disaster programs; the House has finally caved to the $10 billion but doesn't want to give on a new tax title - no extra goodies. And Ways and Means Chairman Charlie Rangel remains resolute on his priority -nutrition programs. If the deadline is not met two weeks from now there is serious consideration to extending the current farm bill for one year -admitting, like for so many other issues, getting through the elections and getting to a new Congress is a real option. Michael Nolan MJN Consulting LLC 202.359.4496 __ Going green? See the top 12 foods to eat organic.