DC Hill update 9/1: One last week of recess

We're on the last week of recess before Senators come back to Washington, D.C. and take up climate and clean energy legislation again. Here's a revised timeline for action in the Senate.

Update 9/1: On Monday, Aug 31st, Senators Kerry and Boxer announced that the release of their draft legislation would be pushed back, noting only that it would be released "later in September." What this means for the prospects of a complete bill before Cophenhagen is uncertain, though in a separate statement, Majority Leader Harry Reid reaffirmed his commitment to a bill before the end of the year.

1. Timeline

• 8/8 - 9/7 Senate August Recess (4 weeks);
  
  
• 8/31-9/4 1Sky Back To DC actions at Senate offices across the country;
  
  
• "Later in September" - probably one of the last two weeks - Kerry-Boxer Discussion Draft to be released, possible Republican co-sponsor TBD. Draft may still include placeholders to be filled in, especially concerning allocations;
  
  

2. Vacant Senate Seats and Swing States

Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died late Tuesday night of brain cancer, leaving a legacy of progressive leadership, including on climate issue. The process for filling Kennedy's vacant seat is uncertain. In most states, the Governor picks a replacement immediately. However, in Massachusetts this law was modified in 2004 to demand a special election, rather than an appointment. The law was put in place to prevent Republican Governor Mitt Romney from appointing a Republican replacement for Presidential Candidate Sen. John Kerry.

On his death bed Senator Kennedy petitioned Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and the state legislature to change the 2004 law to allow the Massachusetts Governor to temporarily fill his seat immediately following his death, a move that would protect a strong Democratic vote for health care reform. It remains to be determined as to whether the legislature will change the law to do as Sen. Kennedy asked, or accepting an empty seat to be filled via special election in 5-months, thereby withholding a much needed vote for both health care and climate legislation.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist picked former chief of staff George LeMieux to replace Republican Senator Mel Martinez, who resigned before the recess. Governor Crist is expected to run for the seat in the 2010 Senate elections. Whether or not LeMieux will provide a yes vote for climate is uncertain, but environmentalists can remain hopeful considering the Governor's promising history on environmental issues. Crist has directed stimulus funds towards clean energy, worked to promote green jobs in his state and has even directed the state Department of Environmental Protection to draft rules for a statewide cap and trade system. Read more about Senator LeMieux at the 1Sky blog.

Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) is receiving a Democratic challenger from the right in the upcoming Arkansas primary. Numbers suggest that her re-election may be an uphill battle. Senator Lincoln is one of several key Democratic swing votes for climate. For fast facts on all 22 climate swing states, check out this great new resource page from the U.S. Climate Action Network.

3. Draft Senate Climate Bill

Chairwoman Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Kerry (D-MA) will introduce a draft climate bill immediately following recess on Sept 8. After the draft is public, climate champions on EPW will fight to maintain strong provisions, while opposition fights for a weaker bill. We will have to work harder than ever to ensure that champions of our priorities are supported as they go up against the obstructionist forces of the right.

More on the Senate climate bill last week:

• The Wonk Room has a great post covering Senate strengthening efforts;
  
  
• Carl Pope (executive director of the Sierra Club), along with the President of Earth Justice and Director of the Environmental Integrity Project brought the coal loophole further into the public eye this week;
  
  
• Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has emerged as a champion of the issue. She is determined to prevent coal expansion, and bring America's oldest and dirtiest coal plants under regulation;
  
  
• EPW Chairwoman Boxer (D-CA) came out in support of a price collar recently (E&E), suggesting that she was leaning towards an allowance reserve that could then be auctioned off to manage any unforeseen price volatility caused by a cap on carbon;
  
  
• NRDC has published strong arguments for and against certain types of price safeguards.

4. (True) Grassroots Action

1Sky announced last week that more than 1000 small businesses nationwide are calling on the Senate to support a strong and comprehensive clean energy jobs bill this fall. This push has been one of many from green groups who are working over the Recess to create the necessary momentum for the fall (E&E).

Virginia's Republican Gubernatorial candidate is running on a "green jobs" platform, and launched new ads this week. Green groups are also continuing to target Republican House members who voted against ACES, with more than $1 million worth of advertising.

5. Copenhagen Draws Near

India urged rich nations to "call its climate change bluff" this week. Meanwhile, China signals that it will support an international treaty in December, and take domestic action soon. Grassroots groups are also ramping up their activities as the countdown to Copenhagen begins. The TckTckTck campaign, an alliance of organizations and individuals calling for a binding global climate agreement this fall in Copenhagen (101 days away!), had its official launch this week with an impressive start. Already, they have over 950,000 individuals in their network.

In preparation for the United Nations General Assembly session on climate change, The Age of Stupid, a major motion picture about global warming will launch in the U.S. on September 21st from a solar-powered cinema tent in New York. 1Sky is featured as an NGO partner in the Age of Stupid’s global campaign. The event will kick off what will hopefully be a fall of international grassroots action, as there are several key negotiations in the build up to Copenhagen. Here's the full calendar of events (PDF).

6. Oil Issues

The NY Times disputed the likelihood of peak oil this week; the integrity of the NYT op-ed was then disputed by Climate Progress’ Joe Romm. Also debated this week was ACES’ potential contribution to reducing American dependence on foreign oil. Some argue that the bill will not substantially reduce oil consumption globally, but agree that U.S. imports will decrease if the legislation passes. The oil industry is meanwhile continuing to whip up a fake grassroots opposition to the bill.

7. Chamber of Commerce Challenges Climate Science

Despite stronger-than-ever climate science, the US Chamber of Commerce is pushing the EPA to hold a public hearing on evidence for man-made climate change, similar to the historic "Scopes monkey trial." As a result, some are calling for corporate members of the US Climate Action Partnership who have voiced support for a cap and trade program to publicly drop their memberships from the chamber.
The science of climate change has been put on trial once already in both California and Vermont when the auto industry filed lawsuits against both states' attempts to set their own tailpipe emissions regulations. Ultimately, environmental groups were victorious.

This weekly policy update was prepared by Rhiya Trivedi and Jason Kowalski at 1Sky. Questions or comments? jason@1sky.org.