Senate Climate Bill in ICU as Partisan Pressure Surges

"Prospects for the Senate climate bill grew even dimmer yesterday after the trio working on a comprehensive measure emerged from a closed-door meeting headed in separate directions -- both literally and figuratively.

Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) made no joint statements following a 45-minute meeting in the Capitol, their first chance to huddle in person since Graham threatened over the weekend to abandon the talks because of the Democratic leadership's decision to also tackle the hot-button issue of immigration.

Instead, each senator went his own way.

Graham insisted that he wants to work on the climate and energy bill but doubts it has any chance of success this year so long as Majority Leader Harry Reid continues forward with an immigration overhaul that is linked closely to the Nevada Democrat's own re-election prospects."

Darren Samuelsohn reports for ClimateWire April 27, 2010.

See Also:

"Senate Not Ready Yet for Immigration Debate" (Reuters)

"Troubled Senate Climate Bill to Undergo EPA Analysis" (Greenwire)

"Lindsey Graham: Immigration Must Be Tabled" (Politico)

"Gibbs: Climate and Immigration Not a Question of 'Either-or'"

"Sen. Kerry: 3 Big Oil Companies, Utility Group Will Back Senate Climate Bill" (ClimateWire)

"Graham: 'I Don't Want to Play Politics'" (Mother Jones)

"Is China Chortling at Senate Climate Stasis?" (Dot Earth)

"'Energy Only' Bill in Senate Would Be Tough Sell" (Greenwire)

"Kerry, Lieberman Scramble to Avoid Climate Bill 'Fiasco'" (ClimateWire)

"Democrats Work To Overcome Graham's Immigration Objections" (Washington Post)

"Sen. Lindsey Graham Has the White House's Ear" (Washington Post)

"Senator: White House Can Help Save Climate Bill" (Reuters)

"If Sen. Graham Bails, Is There a Climate and Energy Backup Plan?" (SolveClimate)

"Senate Panel Clears Budget But Nips Climate Reconciliation" (E&E Daily)

"Sunken Rig Raises Questions for Future Exploration, Climate Bill" (E&E Daily)

"Climate Bill Appears Stalled in Senate" (NPR)