Climate Changing for Climate Bill
Posted: June 22, 2009
Members of Congress and administration officials are trying to work out a compromise, but it looks like the comprehensive climate change bill may have to wait until after the 4th of July before it makes it to the floor for a vote.
House Agriculture Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN) set up a meeting last week with several White House officials, including climate and energy czar Carol Browner and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, as well as bill sponsor Henry Waxman (D-CA) over the American Clean Energy and Security Act. Peterson told reporters last week that he believes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “wants the farmers’ concerns to be addressed” in the bill “she wants them to be on board with what we’re doing.”
So far, agriculture is far from being on board with the bill. The American Farm Bureau Federation last week called for drastic changes in the bill before it is considered by Congress, saying it could result “in the economic equivalent of unilateral disarmament” if the government’s optimistic assumptions don’t hold true.
The National Pork Producers Council sent a letter to the House Agriculture Committee last week saying the bill will raise the cost of pork production. “In particular, producers fear the impact that H.R. 2454 will have on the cost of electricity, diesel fuel, grain, propane, animal health products, fertilizer, chemicals, farm equipment and materials such as steel and concrete that are necessary for the continued operations of their farms and well-being of their animals,” said NPPC.
Farm groups were hoping the agriculture committee would make changes in the bill before it went to the floor, but apparently they needed to do that before a June 19 deadline, and that did not happen. Now any changes will have to be made when the bill comes up for a vote.
Peterson is reportedly trying to work out a compromise, despite expressing frustration on Friday. “I’m tired of going around in circles,” he said. He is being seen as the main roadblock to getting the bill passed, with media reports calling him all kinds of tough names. My personal favorite, from the Wall Street Journal, calls him “a Marlboro-smoking free spirit who scoffs at warnings about climate change.” Another good one from the New York Times says the 10-term congressman from western Minnesota is “described as as “tough,” “stubborn,” “smart,” and “skillful” by his colleagues, a “champion” by farm groups and a “bully” by those on opposing sides.”
Nice to have someone tough on our side.