The Washington Post reported this week that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling for a climate bill to finished up and ready for a vote as soon as possible.
Senators John Kerry and Lindsey Graham have been working together (along with Joe Lieberman of all people) on legislation and Reid is lighting a fire under their backsides.
“The majority leader is deadly serious about making progress this year on climate and energy reform,” Kerry said in a statement. “He’s been a hero every step of the process and he’s been in constant communication. Senators Lieberman, Graham and I have been meeting every day and we’re on a short track here, piecing together legislation and working with our colleagues so it can be finished and rolled out soon.”
…
“Senator Reid made it clear to me the other day that he wants a bill and he wants it soon,” Kerry said. “I can’t give you an exact timetime, but we are working very very dilligently with our colleagues and all of the stakeholders to think this through carefully and get this done right, and get it done in a way that can pass the Senate.”
I’m hoping that “get it done in a way that can pass the Senate” is not code words for “water it down to the point of being completely toothless”. As someone that leans strongly toward preferring a carbon tax over a cap-and-trade scheme, I think it’s important that they not just give away gifts to polluting industries. That said, Reid’s eagerness to move forward is very encouraging.
On a related note, 1Sky along with a coalition of groups including Repower America, the National Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club, and all the groups associated with the Clean Energy Works initiative have a big event coming up this week called “72 Hours for Clean American Power”. More info + phonebanking locations after the jump.
From the 1Sky announcement:
From March 2-4, 1Sky supporters are joining with dozens of organizations – including climate and environmental, labor, business, veterans’ advocacy, and many more – representing millions of Americans, calling on the U.S. Senate to stop Senator Lisa Murkowski’s efforts to weaken the Clean Air Act and pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation that will put us on a path towards energy independence and secure our nation. Join the movement and sign-up today!
Click the link and make some calls!
I’m just sayin’…
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If you are in Michigan, here’s a list of places where you can phonebank this week:
TUESDAY, MARCH 2
AFL-CIO (Lansing, MI)
419 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
6-9pm
Aaron Quinney, 517-402-6523, Email and Website
UFCW Offices (Madison Heights, MI)
876 Horace Brown Dr
Madison Heights, MI 48071
6-9pm
August Gitschlag, 586-360-7854, Email and Website.
Repower America Dearborn Headquarters (Dearborn, MI)
4917 Schaefer
Dearborn, MI 48126
5-9pm
Trevor Tutro-Anderson, 716-816-6389, Email and Website.
Michigan Land Use Institute (Traverse City, MI)
148 E. Front Street
Suite 301
Traverse City, MI 49684
5:30-8:30pm
Kevin Numerick, 517-974-6580, Email and Website.
Clean Water Action offices (Ann Arbor, MI)
205 1/2 N. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
6-8:30pm
Jesse Worker, 734-222-6469, Email and Website.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3
AFL-CIO (Lansing, MI)
419 S. Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
6-9pm
Aaron Quinney, 517-402-6523, Email and Website.
Repower America Dearborn Headquarters (Dearborn, MI)
4917 Schaefer
Dearborn, MI 48126
5-9pm
Trevor Tutro-Anderson, 716-816-6389, Email and Website.
Michigan Land Use Institute (Traverse City, MI)
148 E. Front Street
Suite 301
Traverse City, MI 49684
5:30-8:30pm
Kevin Numerick, 517-974-6580, Email and Website.
Clean Water Action offices (Ann Arbor, MI)
205 1/2 N. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
6-8:30pm
Jesse Worker, 734-222-6469, Email and Website.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4
Cook Carriage House, Aquinas College Campus (Grand Rapids, MI)
Aquinas College, 1607 Robinson Road Southeast
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
6-9pm
Zane Corriveau, 616-706-7904, Email and Website.
Repower America Dearborn Headquarters (Dearborn, MI)
4917 Schaefer
Dearborn, MI 48126
5-9pm
Trevor Tutro-Anderson, 716-816-6389, Email and Website.
Crystal Center (Kalamazoo, MI)
3254 South Westnedge Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
6-9pm
Zane Corriveau, 616-706-7904, Email and Website.
Whiskey In The Jar (Hamtramck, MI)
2741 Yemans St
Hamtramck, MI 48212
5:30-7:30pm
August Gitschlag, 586-360-7854, Email and Website.
Michigan Land Use Institute (Traverse City, MI)
148 E. Front Street
Suite 301
Traverse City, MI 49684
5:30-8:30pm
Kevin Numerick, 517-974-6580, Email and Website.
Clean Water Action offices (Ann Arbor, MI)
205 1/2 N. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
6-8:30pm
Jesse Worker, 734-222-6469, Email and Website.
