I posted just a couple days ago that it didn’t look like the climate bill was going to be coming to the floor for a vote until after the 4th of July recess. Now there’s a big hint Nancy Pelosi may be rolling the dice and going for it this Friday even though negotiations with the agriculture lawmakers are still unresolved. Here’s the article saying the vote may be this Friday. I’m posting the contents below.
House SpeakerNancy Pelosiwill roll the dice on a top priority this week, bringing a contentious climate-change bill to the floor despite strong misgivings from her rank-and-file and an outspoken chairman who remains a major impediment.
The speaker filed thelegislationwith the Rules Committee on Monday night, her spokesman said, even though its authors, Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey, are still working out adealwith Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson.
“The bill has been filed tonight with the RulesCommittee,” Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said in an e-mail. “There are some issues still under discussion, but we are confident we can resolve them by the time the bill goes to the floor on Friday.”
The speaker, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.),Waxmanand Peterson “have all agreed on this approach for moving this historic climate change and clean energyjobsbill,” Hammill continued.
Peterson, who articulated the complaints of farm-state Democrats, has come to stand for many other rank-and-file lawmakers who oppose the bill. The rural Democrats are concerned it puts a disproportionate burden on farmers, without the possibility of rewards, while others in the party are concerned about the economic impact of thebilland its impact on the separate, but related, fight overhealthcare.
Waxman and Markey have been patiently working on their colleagues for months, offering incentives for industry along the way, and they have been working with Peterson on a package of incentives for the farm states.
Matt Dernoga
