Senate Republicans boycott climate bill

Republicans followed through this morning on their threat to boycott a Senate committee's work this week on a sweeping climate change bill.

The only one to show up, the Associated Press reports, was George Voinovich of Ohio, the ranking Republican on the environment committee, and he only attended to explain why the GOP is staying away. He said the tactic "is not a ruse" to block the bill, but reflects concern that the full economic impact of the bill has not been studied or made clear.

Many Republicans deride the cap-and-trade system at the heart of the legislation's heart as a job killer and energy tax hike. And a high-profile Republican whom Democrats had hoped would cross the aisle -- Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who co-authored an op-ed on climate change with Senator John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, a lead sponsor of the bill -- is now vocally opposed.

That dims the prospects of the Senate passing a bill. The Democratic-controlled House passed its version in June.

President Obama's grassroots group sent an email to supporters whose senators sit on the environment committee urging them to contact their lawmakers.

"It's essential that we demonstrate that voters across the country strongly support bold action to build America's new energy future,"
wrote Organizing for America political director Addisu Demissie.

Kerry on Monday called for Republicans to stay engaged.

“Over the years, whether it was with the leadership of Sen. Jack Heinz, Sen. John McCain, or Sen. John Warner, we’ve made progress on climate change when we’ve been able to overcome partisan divisions. We’ve never needed to do that more than today," he said in a statement. "We should remember that the GOP’s 2008 presidential nominee called for strong, mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions as part of his campaign, and Sen. Lindsey Graham has joined us in this year’s fight. Chairman Boxer is determined to see this Congress pass a strong climate bill for the President to sign. I’d urge everyone to come back to the table, reengage, and work together to move the process forward. ”