Boxer Rolls Political Dice, Climate Bill Moves Onto Senate Floor

The climate bill — stuck in neutral in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee due to a three-day Republican boycott – has now moved onto to the Senate floor.

Sen. Barbara Boxer, chairwoman of the environment committee, essentially decided to allow for a vote sans Republican representation - a politically risky bet that could derail efforts to pass climate change legislation.

Before I delve into the myriad of possible outcomes, here’s what Boxer did and a rundown of the ensuing war of words.

Senate panels require a quorum of minority members when marking up a bill. Meaning, in order to talk about the slew of amendments tacked onto the Clean Energy Jobs for American Power Act — or more simply, the Kerry-Boxer bill – at least two Republicans needed to be present.  

Republican senators wanted the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct an economic analysis of the climate bill before proceeding with a markup. The EPA did offer up an analysis. But it was pretty much the same one it did on the House’s version of the bill, which passed this summer.

Boxer argued a “satisfactory analysis” had already been completed and in an interview with Politico, called it a waste of taxpayer money. The Republicans, miffed at the denial, boycotted the markup. And it should be noted, the Republicans leading the boycott effort — Sens. George Voinovich of Ohio and Lamar Alexanderof Tennessee — are considered moderates.

This prevented the Democrats on the committee from discussing any amendments to the bill. However, a committee rule — never used until today — allows the majority to approve a bill without minority representation.

The Kerry-Boxer bill was approved 11-1 by the Environment and Public Works Committee, with a lone Democrat, Max Baucus of Montana, voting in opposition.

The committee’s ranking Republican, James Inhofe of Oklahoma, was less than pleased, calling it a nuclear option that signaled the death of the bill.

Got all that?

The risk in all of this is Boxer’s move will turn off moderate Republicans, who are absolutely essential, if Democrats hope to get the 60 votes needed to block a filibuster.

Boxer’s big push was clearly made in hopes of restarting a stalled climate bill.

The move also could scuttle the tri-partisan efforts of Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The trio have been busy meeting with senators and Obama administration folks to work on a proposal intended for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Reaction from the oil and gas industry was mixed to say the least.  The American Petroleum Institute and America’s Natural Gas Alliance, whose members also are part of API, issued statements in response to the EPW committee vote. Note the differences in tone. Or more accurately described, their diametric approaches.

API President Jack Gerard attacked the move. Here is a portion of the statement.

“Today’s action should mark the end of Kerry-Boxer, Waxman-Markey-style legislation that could destroy millions of American jobs and drive up fuel prices, punishing everyone who drives, flies or takes a bus or train. The only bipartisanship evident today was opposition to this approach.”

Now here is a part of the statement from ANGA.

“America’s Natural Gas Alliance looks forward to continuing to work with the Senate as the Kerry-Boxer bill makes its way through other committees of jurisdiction to encourage the use of abundant, clean, American natural gas.”

The alliance went on to call for the Senate to add ANGA’s proposal for bridge fuel credits, allowance incentives for natural gas.