CO2-phobic legislation--House Resolution 6316, also known as the Climate MATTERS Act

The politics of "pollution"

Indeed, there is something in the bill for almost every conceivable constituency: health care, agriculture, forestry, Indian tribes, mass transit, renewable energy, education, and so on. These constituencies may not be convinced of the merits of carbon-trading but might just go along with the bill if they believe it serves their own interests.

With elections looming in November, the bill’s chances of passing this year are virtually zero. However, Blumenauer’s goal is to move it through the legislative process as far as possible, and resubmit it next year.

By then, the White House will have a new occupant, and the presumptive presidential nominees of both parties, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, both have voiced support for some form of emissions bill.

“That will change the dynamic radically,” Blumenauer says.

Blumenauer and other advocates of a cap-and-trade system acknowledge that their proposal will inflict real pain on working Americans, and may spell the end of particular industries (coal mining springs to mind.)

But he maintains that the disruption is justified because the potential consequences of global warming are disastrous.

“There’s no free ride on this,” he says. “Compared to the cost of doing nothing, it’s a bargain.”