Olympia Snowe

Politicians continue to attack the Clean Air Act on a daily basis as budget fights, science hearings, and consideration of anti-climate bills persist on Capitol Hill. The government is currently only funded for two more weeks, forcing a major budget compromise by March 18th. House GOP leadership is signaling that they are willing to back down on their most egregious anti-climate riders, but Clean Air Act-blocking legislation continues to be considered in the House and Senate with the introduction of the Upton-Inhofe bill.

Senators return from the Independence Day recess today with a packed schedule awaiting them. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will be working with committee chairs this week to chart a path forward on clean energy legislation in hopes of attracting 60 votes.

The packed legislative calendar and upcoming November elections make July a crucial month for addressing clean energy and climate legislation. Senate Democrats and the Obama Administration remain committed to pivoting off of the oil disaster in the Gulf and passing a clean energy bill, but a concrete legislative package has yet to emerge in the Senate.

By 1Sky organizer Greg Brown. -- Luis

What a great week for clean energy and green jobs progress here in Maine! Senate office visits and letter drops, a press conference and conversations with Governor Baldacci, veterans for energy security panel discussions...the list goes on. (See pics at the end of this post.)