Climate Change Mutiny: Dems Balk, Reject Pelosi

The Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, Collin Peterson (D-Minn) opposes his dear leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's climate change bill. There is a climate change mutiny brewing. Dems are balking and Pelosi has to be feeling the rejection.

Climate Change Mutiny - Rep. Collin Peterson Pelosi has insisted that the Waxman-Markey bill (H.R. 2454) be out of committees by June 19th, but Peterson and the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Henry Waxman (D-CA) are not seeing eye-to-eye. Peterson wants "agriculture-related" provisions "altered." Charging that the bill is growing and not shrinking, Peterson sees a growing lack of support as Dems learn more about the bill. Waxman attempted to keep the bill inside his committee and bypass the Agriculture, but Peterson said nothing would go forward if his committee did not hae an opportunity to mark-up the bill. Peterson's committee members are concerned about the burden the bill places on "renewable energy sources" and their affect on "rural areas and the biofuel industry."

Forecasting yet another problem for House Democrats, Peterson said a number of those lawmakers would be happier if the House backed away from its insistence on such a comprehensive bill and instead starting working toward a more pared-down effort, such as the one being put together by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).

If you've heard Waxman talk about his bill, you know that he is not of the mind to change it for anyone, and this report quotes an unnamed aide saying that House leaders have not considered making changes to gain votes. Democrat hardliners are balking also. They want cap-and-trade in the bill. The Senate says it is leading the way and they can get it done if the House can get it done, according to Senator Harry Reid. Greenpeace says the Waxman-Markey bill is not strong enough, and they cite twelve "conservative" Democrats who have worked to "weaken" the legislation. You can the list of "conservative" Dems here. Here's a few remarks by former Senator George Allen (R-VA):

For decades, our presidents, Congress and unelected bureaucrats have passed legislation and regulations that have restricted access to our own resources, resulting in increased reliance upon foreign fuels to meet the energy needs of U.S. consumers and enterprise. We can achieve strategic American energy independence and create more jobs and prosperity if we intelligently use our coal, oil and natural gas resources, which are 85 percent of the energy that fuels our economy. For a brighter energy future, we must stop five bad ideas and, initially, promote five positive, achievable goals for America.

One bad idea to be stopped:

Americans must oppose carbon and energy taxes, including "cap-and-trade" schemes established in some states and under debate in Congress. A federal cap-and-trade energy program would impose an additional $260 monthly burden on families with higher costs for electricity, clothes, food and fuel. German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently said she would not allow European Union climate regulations that "would endanger jobs or investments in Germany." Our government must follow suit and vow to defend American jobs against the transfer of wealth from America for costly U.N. climate regulations.

Read the remaining four bad ideas as outlined by George Allen.