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Baucus Votes Against Boxer’s Climate Change Bill
Climate Change
Montana Sen. Max Baucus, who was previously said he had “serious reservations” about a climate change bill being crafted by his colleagues Democrat Sens. John Kerry and Barbara Boxer, was the lone Democrat to vote against the bill Thursday in the Environment and Public Works Committee. The measure was still approved 10-1, despite the fact that Republicans boycotted the session and didn’t show up to vote. From Reuters:
Baucus will get a chance to craft his own version of the bill as the chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
Baucus' vote against the bill reflected the difficulties ahead in crafting a measure that would attract the 60 votes needed for passage by the Senate.
As an influential moderate Democrat, Baucus laid out changes he would seek, including a weaker carbon-reduction target. Other Midwestern and Southern senators from states heavily reliant on coal will seek their own changes, which could upset liberals now supporting the bill.
Baucus will get a chance to craft his own version of the bill as the chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
This is a shameful step on the part of Senator Baucus. Montana needs this bill both for the 6,000 jobs it would create (based on research by the University of Massachusetts) and for the opportunity to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and live up to our potential as clean…
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