Congress | Grist

Preserve states’ right to fight climate change 1
Posted 2 months, 1 week ago In his Sept. 22 U.N. speech President Obama got it right: the battle to arrest calamitous climate change can be won only if each of us enlists, perseveres, and fights "for every inch of progress."
Nearly 1,800 interest groups lobbying on transportation bill 0
Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Checks and balances

A private sector view of offsets under a cap-and-trade program 4
Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago
In designing a U.S. cap-and-trade system, Congress should avoid mandates that would hinder the evolution of a robust market in carbon offsets.
Wonkeriffic!

An interview with Jason Burnett, who worked on EPA greenhouse gas regulations 0
Posted 2 months, 2 weeks ago

The following is an interview with Jason Burnett, who worked in the EPA under President GW Bush, wherein we discuss efforts by the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases. Burnett quit the EPA in protest in June 2008, alleging interference from the Office of the Vice President.

The interview is meant as a supplement to the story, "Everything you always wanted to know about EPA greenhouse gas regulations, but were afraid to ask."
The Max Baucus problem

Is Sen. Baucus of Montana standing in the way of swift, strong climate action? 4
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Politico explains why Sen. Max Baucus--more than any Republican, dirty energy flack, or right-wing blowhard--has become a thorn in the side of those working for a robust climate bill.
Clean (energy) bill of health

Health-care reform through green-colored glasses 1
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago
Strong climate legislation could save the U.S. $450 billion in environment-related health-care costs. Shouldn’t climate change be front and center in the health-care debate?
Back to work ... i.e. more inaction

‘What I did on my summer vacation’—by Congress 3
Posted 2 months, 3 weeks ago
It’s true lawmakers endured some nasty town hall meetings during their vacation, but they still got off too easy. So we gave them a homework assignment, asking them to describe "What I did on my summer vacation."
Caveman congressman attacks—watch out, solar family 0
Posted 3 months ago
all the news that's fit to predict

NYT reads the future: Senate Dems consider maybe doing something in 2010 0
Posted 3 months ago
The New York Times gets a scoop from May 2010.
Money talks

Buy green, forget Congress—or not 11
Posted 3 months ago
The director of a new poll says concerned Americans see themselves as consumers, not citizens.
A crucial climate vote lost with Ted Kennedy’s death 17
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
One clear and simple impact of Kennedy’s death: The push for a Senate climate bill--which needs every vote it can get--lost a reliable supporter.
a look at his legacy

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, champion of the environment and clean energy, dies at 77 2
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
Ted Kennedy leaves a legacy of protecting the environment and promoting energy efficiency.
Lobby horse

Majority of ‘Energy Citizens’ rallies organized by oil-industry lobbyists 6
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
Most of the folks organizing "Energy Citizens" rallies against climate legislation all around the country also happen to be registered lobbyists for the oil industry.
It Could Be Verse

Climate-news poem: Cash for cukes edition 0
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
Could the White House farm stand be an important tool in the climate fight?
Windfall prophet

South Dakota Sen. Johnson comes out in favor of passing climate bill 1
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
South Dakota Sen. Tim Johnson (D), considered to be a fence-sitter on climate legislation, seems to be taking more of a strident stance in favor of passing a bill this year.
Mission possible

Veterans push for climate bill with new ‘Operation Free’ coalition 1
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
A new coalition of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is hoping to counter the oil industry–backed "Energy Citizens" rallies with its own call to pass a climate bill and end dependence on fossil fuels.
Things that go clunk in the night

Cash-for-Clunkers to end Monday night, for real this time 2
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
The "Cash for Clunkers" program has been so successful that it will have to be wrapped up earlier than expected, the Obama administration announced on Thursday.
For what it's Wirth

Former Sen. Tim Wirth stirs up controversy over cap-and-trade, tries to tamp it down 3
Posted 3 months, 1 week ago
Tim Wirth -- former Democratic senator from Colorado, former Clinton-era climate negotiator, and current U.N. Foundation president -- raised quite a hubbub this week when he told Bloomberg news that the cap-and-trade bill in Congress had "gotten out of control." Now he's come out with a "clarification."
Ya down with NRDC?

NRDC Action Fund goes on offense against opponents of climate action 3
Posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago
The Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund is bashing representatives who voted against the House climate bill as "villains" and lauding reps who voted for it as "heroes" in a new campaign.
A senior moment

More anti-climate-bill letters forged under names of senior-citizen groups 1
Posted 3 months, 2 weeks ago
More fake letters opposing climate legislation have come to light, with this latest batch being falsely attributed to senior-citizen organizations.