Here’s how the first line of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act [PDF] begins: “Mr. KERRY (for himself and Mrs. BOXER) introduced the following bill ...”
See whose name is first there?
It’s not “Mr. Kerry and Mrs. Boxer introduced” either. He’s introducing it. This is John Kerry’s bill. Boxer has signed on as a co-sponsor.
Word has it this decision came down from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) himself.
It’s widely acknowledged that Boxer bungled the Lieberman-Warner bill last year, particularly in managing (or not, as the case may be) the floor debate. And there are rumors that she’s already stepped on toes and pissed a bunch of people off in the process of putting this bill together. For instance, earlier this month a group of eight Dem senators sent Boxer some legislative language on carbon capture and sequestration. They said it was “imperative” for her to include the language in the bill, not language senators use lightly. These were exactly the swing Dems Boxer will need votes from: Robert Byrd (W.Va.), Max Baucus (Mont.), Mark Warner (Va.), Arlen Specter (Penn.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), Tom Carper (Del.), Bob Casey Jr. (Penn.), and Joe Lieberman (Conn.). Suffice to say, the language isn’t in the bill.
Some of the grumbling is probably just the typical Capitol rumor-mongering, and some is undoubtedly related to the fact that she’s a strong woman who speaks bluntly, but perception is reality in D.C., and for whatever reason, Dems don’t have faith that Boxer can manage this process. She’s just not that well liked—except by Reid, which is why he allowed her to stay on as co-sponsor.
Kerry’s Senate record isn’t exactly littered with major accomplishments either, but from all accounts he’s completely thrown himself into this. It’ll be a real test of his chops, and if he defies the odds and shepherds it all the way to passage, he will finally have the Kennedy-sized accomplishment he’s always wanted.
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Comments
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EarthFire08 Posted 6:55 am
01 Oct 2009
As for the ability to shepherd such a bill all the way to Senate passage, and ultimate signature into law, the combined management skills of Kerry and Boxer probably aren't up to par. But to be fair, very few could pull off such a herculean feat. If only the Dems could harness the ballsy tactical skills of, say, Tom "the hammer" DeLay, for benevolent purposes, and stop giving away the store everytime the Repubs set off a stink bomb, we might see actual progress in the form of good governance. (Not holding breath on that one.)
At this point, the better bet is on "Plan B" -- an aggressive set of measures within the executive branch, starting with a strong EPA ruling on major sources, but extending across all of the major agencies and departments with a stake in climate change, so that no matter what Congress is or isn't able to pull off, we at least begin to move in the right direction.
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Tasermons Partner Posted 9:03 pm
01 Oct 2009
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SusanKraemer Posted 3:18 pm
02 Oct 2009
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