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Paying off the climate bills
by The Green A-TeamThe House voted in favor of the most ambitious climate-change bill in history but will the long list of concessions cripple it’s best intentions?
According to the New York Times, Representaitve Henry A. Waxman of California, co-authored the revolutionary climate bill but was forced to coerce the delegation with billions of dollars in promises in order to get the votes he needed to pass the bill through.
Utility companies seemed to make out the best from the hundreds of pages of special favors written into the bill. Big Coal made an especially big haul as they were granted the go-ahead to build new coal-burning power plants without shouldering new costs. They also walked away with billions toward free pollution permits and the development of carbon capture technology to help meet future pollution targets.
While President Obama agrees the bill isn’t an exact science, he does believe it represents an extraordinary step for the nation.
For a close examination of the new climate bill, check out some of the following links:
House passes bill to address threat of climate change (NY Times)
With something for everyone, climate bill passed (NY Times)
Obama: “Cynical claims” attacking energy bill (Associated Press)
Photo by The Official White House Photostream