GOP Deserts Climate Bill Hearing

Last week, Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) threatened a Republican boycott of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee’s markup of the Kerry-Boxer climate bill. Well, we’re not quite at the markup stage yet, but it seems that Inhofe and his colleagues are already making good on their threat.

The committee’s opening hearing on the bill is underway (Webcast here), and it’s a fairly one-sided debate. Right now, the Democrats are discussing the implications of energy policy with members of the Obama administration, while every Republican seat is empty.

As Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) just pointed out, it’s a pretty clear sign of the uphill battle ahead for climate legislation.