global warming

Lest you should think that Sen. Max Baucus’ (D-Mont.) “no” vote on the Environment and Public Works Committee’s climate bill signaled his opposition to comprehensive climate legislation in general, look no further than his opening statement this morning at the first hearing on the legislation in the Finance Committee, which he chairs:
[...] I am committed [...]

[UPDATE: Quick clarification. This is definitely a conservative media outrage, but Boaz is a libertarian.] I’m reporting out something unrelated, so I’ve almost missed this, but apparently President Obama has made a major error in not going to Germany for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Politico’s Arena is all over [...]

The Republican boycott persisted, but the Democratic side of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee sent its landmark climate bill to the full Senate this morning, by a vote of 11-1. All Republicans were absent, as was Democratic Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.). Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) was the only Democrat to vote against passage, [...]

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced its support for sweeping climate legislation. The announcement surprised everyone — including the Chamber itself — and was quickly revealed to be a hoax.
Well, today we’re seeing a repeat performance — only it appears genuine. The Chamber has posted a letter on its Website that it [...]

The Iowa Independent reports that earlier this week, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), the co-sponsors of a sweeping climate bill that Boxer hopes to mark up in committee next week. In the letter, Grassley trots out a lot of the usual GOP talking points [...]

Finding leverage when you’re in the minority always requires some creativity, but Republicans might have trouble convincing people they’re acting in good faith with this latest effort. The Washington Post reports on a strategy being promoted by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which amounts to, [...]

Global warming skeptics hope “SuperFreakonomics” will continue to shift attitudes toward their cause.

Fantastic news for conservatives and libertarians who’ve been pushing this message for years and getting called “kooks” for their trouble. A new Pew poll has only 57 percent of Americans saying there’s “solid evidence that the earth is warming,” down from 71 percent last year.
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), probably the best-known climate change skeptic in [...]

“This is not a tea party hangover,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony list. “It is every piece of the conservative base–the Club for Growth, social conservatives, right to work, pro-lifers, everyone–coming together.”

Environmentalists woke up to a welcome surprise this morning, as The New York Times and other outlets reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — arguably the most powerful opponent of cap-and-trade legislation — had pulled a 180 and decided to support a climate bill. Climate blogger Adam Siegel proclaimed it “good news for America” [...]