Goodwin Opposes Cap-and-Trade Bill

Carte Goodwin (D-W.Va.) hasn’t even been sworn in as a U.S. senator, but he’s already making waves. First, his colleague-to-be announced that he’d be voting for the long-delayed unemployment benefits extension. And now Goodwin has come out against the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill, saying the House bill and the Senate climate efforts “are simply not right for West Virginia.”

Goodwin, whom Gov. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) introduced during a press conference today as his nominee to replace late Sen. Robert Byrd (D), said during the event that while he would not get into a lengthy policy discussion with the assembled reporters, he opposed the climate bill on its merits.

“I will not support any piece of legislation that threatens any West Virginia job or any West Virginia family,” he said.

Goodwin’s opposition to the legislation is not surprising — Manchin himself has come out against cap-and-trade, and The Hill notes that he had said he would not appoint someone who favored the legislation. But Goodwin’s vocal opposition to it makes one thing clear — he is a placeholder for Manchin, who is all but assured to run in November’s anticipated special election.

Updated at 4:36 p.m.