Byrd, Jay Wary of New Senate Climate Bill

"I am pleased that Senators Boxer and Kerry are placing a greater focus on clean coal technology," Byrd said. "While it is an encouraging sign, we have a long way to go on this legislation. Many issues have yet to be addressed. There is still a tough road ahead."

Teamsters Commend Kerry, Boxer for Recycling Program in Climate Change Bill

Hoffa Urges Retention of Carbon Tariffs To Ensure Level Playing Field

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today praised Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., for introducing climate legislation that would expand states' recycling networks. Hoffa also urged inclusion of strong provisions to prevent foreign competitors from getting an unfair advantage over U.S. manufacturers.

The bill recognizes recycling as a climate strategy that uses less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from landfills. It provides money for a "State Recycling Program" that would increase and improve states' recycling efforts.

U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) statement on Boxer-Kerry climate bill

“As I have stated many times before, I want to support legislation that addresses climate change and provides a more secure energy future for America. Unfortunately, the legislation introduced today by Sens. Boxer and Kerry follows the House-passed bill down the path of higher energy costs, job losses and economic pain for no benefit. Further, it would only hurt farmers, ranchers and forest landowners and provide them no opportunity to recoup the higher costs they will pay for energy and the other inputs necessary to work the land. I cannot support this bill.”

Do U.S. Chamber Defections Reflect New Dynamic in Climate Debate? - NYTimes.com

Indeed, the fight over the climate bill has been distinctly characterized by efforts on both sides to control public perception of the issue. Both supporters and critics of Democratic climate legislation say the fate of the issue will lie more in the anticipated political fallout from votes on the bill than from what is in the measure itself.

For environmentalists, that has meant trying to create an aura of inevitability about climate legislation and trying to marginalize critics by painting them as political outliers that do not represent the American mainstream.
...
"Among the folks who have split off, some chunk of it is rent-seeking," McKenna said. "We should call a spade a spade here."