doctordog
11-03-2009, 05:31 PM
Nov. 3 -- Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., who chairs the Senate environment committee, in an apparent attempt to address Republican concerns, agreed to invite EPA officials to a hearing this afternoon on a climate bill.
Boxer scheduled a hearing today to pass Senate Bill 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, out of committee. However, Republicans said they would boycott today´s hearing in an effort to block the vote. They have asked for a more detailed economic analysis of the climate bill´s impact.
In a letter to Republican leaders, Boxer said she would suspend today´s hearing at 2:30 p.m. to allow EPA officials to answer Republican committee members´ questions about SB 1733.
"I want to make sure you are aware that EPA has confirmed that the extensive analysis and supporting materials provided to the committee are totally sufficient and appropriate for our legislative process," Boxer said.
However, she said that "in the spirit of collegiality" she arranged for a recess in the markup proceedings this afternoon to allow Republicans to talk to EPA officials about their concerns.
In addition, Boxer agreed to allow Republicans until the close of business today to file amendments.
Republicans thanked Boxer for delaying the business meeting, but said the additional testimony of EPA officials would be insufficient to address their concerns. The EPA needs to conduct additional analysis before a vote takes place, said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.
"While I respect your intent, the issue before us is not whether we understand the EPA´s 38-page discussion paper on SB 1733 and its current analysis of Waxman-Markey [climate legislation]," Voinovich said today. "Rather, the issue is that the committee lacks a full analysis with modeling runs of SB 1733. Having an EPA briefing does nothing to change that."
The EPA has already agreed to do the modeling the Republicans have requested, so the committee should put off a vote until that occurs, Voinovich said.
The committee´s ranking member, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., expressed a similar opinion.
"There are five weeks until the Copenhagen meetings begin, which, according to the EPA administrator, leaves enough time for Chairman Boxer to work with us and the EPA to conduct a full economic analysis of [SB 1733]," Inhofe said.
The Obama administration and Democrats have expressed hope of making significant progress on climate legislation before international talks on climate change take place in Copenhagen in December.
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Boxer scheduled a hearing today to pass Senate Bill 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, out of committee. However, Republicans said they would boycott today´s hearing in an effort to block the vote. They have asked for a more detailed economic analysis of the climate bill´s impact.
In a letter to Republican leaders, Boxer said she would suspend today´s hearing at 2:30 p.m. to allow EPA officials to answer Republican committee members´ questions about SB 1733.
"I want to make sure you are aware that EPA has confirmed that the extensive analysis and supporting materials provided to the committee are totally sufficient and appropriate for our legislative process," Boxer said.
However, she said that "in the spirit of collegiality" she arranged for a recess in the markup proceedings this afternoon to allow Republicans to talk to EPA officials about their concerns.
In addition, Boxer agreed to allow Republicans until the close of business today to file amendments.
Republicans thanked Boxer for delaying the business meeting, but said the additional testimony of EPA officials would be insufficient to address their concerns. The EPA needs to conduct additional analysis before a vote takes place, said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio.
"While I respect your intent, the issue before us is not whether we understand the EPA´s 38-page discussion paper on SB 1733 and its current analysis of Waxman-Markey [climate legislation]," Voinovich said today. "Rather, the issue is that the committee lacks a full analysis with modeling runs of SB 1733. Having an EPA briefing does nothing to change that."
The EPA has already agreed to do the modeling the Republicans have requested, so the committee should put off a vote until that occurs, Voinovich said.
The committee´s ranking member, Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., expressed a similar opinion.
"There are five weeks until the Copenhagen meetings begin, which, according to the EPA administrator, leaves enough time for Chairman Boxer to work with us and the EPA to conduct a full economic analysis of [SB 1733]," Inhofe said.
The Obama administration and Democrats have expressed hope of making significant progress on climate legislation before international talks on climate change take place in Copenhagen in December.
http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/email.html?id=1257267561