Democratic Unity Elusive on Waxman Climate [Swindle] Bill - Environmental Capital - WSJ

Rep. Henry Waxman says he thinks he has enough support among fellow Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to pass his climate bill next week. But at least two of those Democrats said Wednesday they can’t support the bill yet.

In separate interviews, Reps. Gene Green and Charlie Gonzalez, both of Texas, said they are still negotiating with Mr. Waxman over the bill’s provisions, including the percentage of emissions permits that oil and natural gas refiners will get for free. Mr. Waxman has said he is willing to give the industry one percent; Mr. Green is asking for five percent.

“We’re talking about a large impact on our constituents, and [Mr. Waxman and his allies] are talking about controlling carbon and saving the world,” Mr. Green says. Asked if he thought Mr. Waxman has enough support on the committee to pass the bill next week, Mr. Green said “If they didn’t need my vote, they wouldn’t be talking to me.”

If global warming doesn't get you, the swine flu will

A few months ago, CBC reporter Duncan McCue gave a talk at the University of British Columbia, where he showed a news story about an environmentally friendly hair salon. He explained that it was part of the CBC's One Million Acts of Green campaign, where they challenge Canadians to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I said that I had a problem with a news organization, especially a government funded news organization, picking up a social cause, trying to get people to change the way they live, and then reporting on themselves as if it were actual news. I was apparently the only one there who thought this was objectionable.

Give global warming skeptics a voice, too | ajc.com

The bottom line: We don’t know enough to spend megabucks on speculative solutions to what may be a nonproblem. Instead, let’s move ahead on two common-sense fronts.

First, we should expand measures that make sense from several angles, including possible warming. Improved energy efficiencies, cleaner coal technologies and more nuclear power all make sense. Wind and solar can also play a role.

Second, we need serious scientific debate of the four issues I raised. But this time, let’s listen carefully to both believers and skeptics. That’s the way science is supposed to work.

Dr. J. Winston Porter is a former assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.