Lawmaker: Global warming plan won't be in budget

WASHINGTON – House Democrats won't advance President Obama's controversial global warming initiative under fast-track rules that could effectively cut Senate Republicans out of the debate, a top Democratic lawmaker said Tuesday.

The House will try to use special budget procedures to remake the health care system, Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt Jr., D-S.C., said Tuesday.
...
Democrats such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California had advocated passing the controversial cap-and-trade plan under a special bill that can speed through the Senate on a simple majority vote, instead of the 60 votes needed to move most other legislation. Democrats and their allies control 58 seats at present.

But many Democrats, even party loyalists such as Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, oppose the idea, as do many House moderates. Pelosi is being forced to abandon the idea in the face of so much opposition.

Where's the Transparency? - Greg Pollowitz - Planet Gore on National Review Online

Energy Secretary Chu is on a roll and giving out millions as if he were the banker in Monopoly. The latest is $535 million in the form of a loan guarantee to solar company Solyndra, a deal that could be exposed to a little more sunlight, if you ask me.
...
What are the terms of the loan guarantee? Solyndra went into the
private equity market last year to raise funds for this project with suboptimal results. So now Joe Q. Public gets to bet on it?
...
Since Goldman was advising Solyndra on this project, did anyone in Chu's Department of Energy question why taxpayers are guaranteeing the debt on a new solar plant for a market that Goldman's own analysts have downgraded? Has President Obama's election changed Goldman's view on alternative energy to the point that it is now recommending the sector?

5. Solyndra has big name investors ($600 million invested to date) who will benefit from the deal. Such names as Abu Dhabi, Richard Branson of Virgin, and the Walton family (as in Wal-Mart, through Madrone Capital Partners.) These guys couldn't arrange traditional debt financing? If not, why? Congress went nuts when Chrysler's private equity backer asked for taxpayer money. Why is this different?