Graham Offers Tepid Response to Climate Bill

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who until three weeks ago was one of three senators working on comprehensive climate legislation, offered a noncommittal response to Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman’s (I-Conn.) rollout of the climate bill this afternoon. Environmental advocates will be none too encouraged by his closing language:

“While I have not seen the changes made by Senators Kerry and Lieberman to the final product, I look forward to reviewing their proposal in regards to offshore drilling, the transportation sector, and other issues. [...]

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to improve upon these concepts and find a pathway forward on energy independence, job creation, and a cleaner environment. We should move forward in a reasoned, thoughtful manner and in a political climate which gives us the best chance at success. The problems created by the historic oil spill in the Gulf, along with the uncertainty of immigration politics, have made it extremely difficult for transformational legislation in the area of energy and climate to garner bipartisan support at this time.”

Without Graham’s support — and efforts to bring fellow Republicans on board — the legislation stands little chance of passage.