The Senate on Wednesday approved by a wide margin a budget amendment from Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb., to prevent the fast-tracking of controversial climate change legislation.
Congress is debating the annual budget resolution this week, with the Senate working its way through a long list of proposed changes. Johanns' amendment passed 67-31, with the support of many Democrats.
The amendment's approval was a blow to other Democrats who have advocated using a fast-track procedure known as "reconciliation" to approve climate change legislation proposed by President Barack Obama. The president's plan would limit emissions of greenhouse gases for manufacturers and allow companies to trade the right to pollute to other firms.
Proponents say it provides financial incentives for reducing greenhouse gases and helps relieve climate change. Opponents say the plan amounts to a heavy tax on industry that will result in higher costs to consumers and jobs sent overseas.
Faced with the prospect of a Republican filibuster, some Democrats have discussed using reconciliation for approving the climate change legislation. Such a move would allow them to approve the legislation quickly, and with only a simple majority vote instead of the 60 votes it usually takes to end a filibuster.
The Johanns amendment rules out reconciliation as an option. He said the vote tally shows just how much resistance to the fast track route exists among Democrats.
CONGRATULATIONS SENATOR JOHANNS for this fine piece of work on our behalf! Click the link in the title of this article to read more about Nebraska's bipartisan effort on Cap and Trade.
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